Midfielder, James McArthur will leave Crystal Palace at the end of 2022-23 season.
McArthur joined Palace in September 2014 from Wigan Athletic, after the Latics failed to win promotion back into the Premier League the previous season – having lost to QPR in the 2013-14 Championship Play-Off Semi-Finals to QPR who subsequently won promotion.
The Scotland international went on to score 19 goals in 252 appearances for Palace despite missing much of this season through injury.
Speaking of his decision to leave Selhurst Park after Sunday’s season-closing match against Nottingham Forest, McArthur said: “If you’d have told me when I first came to Crystal Palace that I’d be here for nine seasons, I’d have found it hard to believe, because it’s rare in football to spend so long at such an amazing Premier League club.”
McArthur proceeded to thank everyone who was part of his time at Palace as he added: “I would like to thank everyone: all my managers, the Chairman, [Sporting Director] Dougie Freedman, and the players present and past. I’ve had a journey with so many people here over the years.
“I also want to say a massive thank you to every one of the fans. The support that I’ve had personally, and the support that they give the team, is like at no other club. When times are tough, Palace fans really get behind the team, and that’s so important to all of us. I will always be a fan of the club.”
Palace Chairman, Steve Parish meanwhile described McArthur as “a mainstay” of the club for almost a decade with unquestionale “tenacity and energy” which “had a huge impact on us retaining our Premier League status for that record period of time.”
Parish proceeded to admit that McArthur will be a hard player to replace, as he continued: “An absolute stand-out professional, on and off the pitch, James’ leadership and character will be hard to replace.”
Concluding his tribute to McArthur, Parish “personally” thanked the midfielder for his contributions over the last nine years, whilst wishing “him and his family nothing but the very best for the future.”
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