Palace poised to return Christantus to Gefafe when January transfer window opens

NIGERIAN midfielder Uche Christantus could be on his way out of the English Premier League after just three months as Crystal Palace who signed him on deadline day this September are now looking to offload him during the January transfer window.

A creative playmaker, Christantus, 22, was a deadline day signing for Palace, moving to Selhurst Park on September 1, as the club eventually succeeded in wooing him from his Spanish club Getafe. He was secured on loan until June 2026, with Palace then under an obligation to buy him for a fee of around £17.3m at the end of the season.

Christantus was initially reluctant to move to England at this stage of his career, preferring to remain in Spain for at least another season. However, Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Getafe president Ángel Torres managed to convince him to change his mind as the Spanish club needed to sell him due to their financial constraints.

Mr Glasner convinced the player that Selhurst Park would be the right platform to continue his development. Before agreeing to the transfer, Uche reportedly discussed the move with Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, who assured him he had enough time to sort out his future before linking up with the national team who were playing World Cup qualifiers.

Since joining Palace, however, things have gone sour for Christantus as he is yet to start a game for the south London side and the club is now looking to return him to Spain during the forthcoming January transfer window. According to journalist Alan Nixon, both parties are looking to end his time at the Premier League club.

He wrote: “Crystal Palace are ready to let new boy Christantus Uche go back to Getafe in January. The Nigerian midfielder came on loan with a view to a buy but has failed to make an impact and all parties are looking into a get-out in the window.

“Uche has made a couple of appearances but does not seem to be Oliver Glasner’s type and Eagles will now look for a replacement in that area.”

Apart from having problems with his club, Christantus has also failed to hold down his place in the Nigerian national team. He was invited to camp for the last two World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic by Mr Chelle dropped him for the current play-offs against Gabon and DR Congo, indicating that he too was not impressed with the player.

Christantus had been touted as the solution to Nigeria's creativity problems as his versatility allowed him play a number of roles in the team. He is apparently comfortable playing as a bob-to-box midfielder, playmaker or makeshift forward and had been expected to become one of the mainstays of the Super Eagles.

Tonight, Nigeria plays the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final of the African World Cup play-off without Christantus. It is unlikely he will be recalled to the national team in the immediate future until his club form improves.