Wilfried Zaha resumes training with Crystal Palace amid transfer uncertainty
Wilfried Zaha has returned to training with Crystal Palace as the club legend searches for the next destination of his career, but the Eagles currently have no plans to offer him a sensational Selhurst Park comeback, reports BritPanorama.
The 33-year-old has been working at Palace’s Beckenham training base after bringing his time with Turkish giants Galatasaray to an end. Zaha remains based in the local area and has been given permission by his former club to maintain his fitness while attempting to secure a move before the new season gets under way.
His presence at the club has inevitably raised the prospect of another emotional return for a player who became synonymous with Palace during two lengthy spells. However, according to reports, Palace are not currently looking to re-sign the Ivory Coast international despite their enduring relationship with the winger.
Zaha is available after his Galatasaray contract ended, having spent the opening months of 2026 playing in Major League Soccer. He joined Charlotte FC on loan and worked under former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith, but an agreement could not ultimately be reached to turn the move into a permanent one.
That has left Zaha searching for another club as he enters the latter stages of a career that has been overwhelmingly associated with Palace. The winger progressed through the Eagles’ academy before making his senior debut in 2010, going on to make 458 appearances for the club, scoring 90 goals and providing 54 assists.
His first spell ended when Manchester United secured his signature, although he struggled to establish himself at Old Trafford and also spent time on loan with Cardiff City. A return to Selhurst Park followed, where Zaha developed into one of Palace’s most important Premier League players before eventually leaving on a free transfer in the summer of 2023 after rejecting a lucrative long-term extension.
Instead, Zaha opted for a new challenge with Galatasaray, where he enjoyed silverware, helping the Istanbul giants win both the league title and a domestic cup. However, his subsequent loan spells have clouded his consistent contributions in recent years.
While Zaha is back in familiar surroundings in south London, Palace’s immediate transfer focus is on new arrivals rather than former ones. New manager Pierre Sage is overseeing significant changes to his squad ahead of the Premier League campaign, with the Eagles pursuing further additions.
So far, Dwight McNeil has arrived alongside £21 million winger Anan Khalaili, while defensive reinforcements Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oscar Mingueza have also joined. More business is expected as Palace look to strengthen Sage’s options before the transfer window closes. Their preparations suffered a setback over the weekend when they were beaten 3-0 by Freiburg in their final pre-season friendly.
As the clock ticks down towards the season opener against Everton, the atmosphere grows tenser; Zaha’s future remains uncertain amid a flurry of transfer activity. Yet, his legacy at Palace lingers, a reminder that the ties between a player and his club often take more than just time to sever.
