Crystal Palace are in advanced talks to sign Real Salt Lake wing-back Zavier Gozo in a deal worth about $15 million, with no agreement yet in place. The 19-year-old, who has made clear he is ready to move to Europe this summer, is now at the center of a transfer that could close quickly if the clubs bridge the final gap.
Gozo has turned a breakthrough season into real leverage. He has six goals and five assists in 16 games for Real Salt Lake, and that output has pushed him from a promising winger into one of the most sought-after young players in MLS. Palace’s interest is not new either: Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid moved for him in January, while other European clubs have already been priced out by Real Salt Lake’s asking price and the pull of England.
The timing matters because this is not a distant summer link. Real Salt Lake had hoped to keep Gozo for the rest of the season, but the club is open to an immediate move, which leaves the transfer window as much about timing as price. If Palace complete the deal, they would be adding a player who has already shown end product and who has been tested in a wingback role after first breaking through as a winger.
That profile fits the direction Palace have been taking under Pierre Sage, who arrived this summer after Oliver Glasner left following a UEFA Conference League final triumph over Rayo Vallecano. Palace also head into a season built around UEFA Europa League football, a FA Cup title in 2025, and a squad that already has Daniel Munoz first choice at right wing-back with Oscar Mingueza providing cover and competition. Chris Richards remains a key player, and the club’s schedule begins on August 22 against Everton.
Palace have been working the market with a clear pattern: young players, room to grow, and roles that can change with the team. They previously brought in Oscar Mingueza on a free transfer after his Celta Vigo contract expired, and they remain keen to sign two centre-backs. They are also watching other moving pieces, including Romain Esse, David Ozoh and the club’s wider squad planning, as they prepare for at least eight Europa League matches.
For Gozo, the decision now comes down to whether the clubs can settle the fee and the timing. Real Salt Lake wanted him to stay through the end of the season, but if Palace and the MLS club agree on the structure, the move can happen this summer or even sooner. The only thing that looks settled is that the player has already made his preference known.
