Walter Benitez’s Transfer to Crystal Palace
Walter Benitez, the goalkeeper currently defending the net for PSV Eindhoven, is on the verge of moving to Crystal Palace, with a medical scheduled for this Friday. The 32-year-old Argentine is nearing the end of his contract with PSV, which expires later this month, and he has not agreed to terms on a new deal. This opens the door for the Premier League club to secure his services after holding discussions with him.
Crystal Palace’s Goalkeeping Situation
Crystal Palace, the FA Cup champions, are in search of a reliable third goalkeeper as Matt Turner, who was on loan from Nottingham Forest, is set to depart following the conclusion of his season-long arrangement. Turner is expected to finalize a transfer to Ligue 1 club Lyon, with the two teams agreeing on an €8 million (£6.74 million) deal.
In the meantime, Remi Matthews, who served as the third choice behind Dean Henderson and Turner last season, has extended his contract with the club. Benitez is anticipated to provide backup for Henderson and may even challenge him for the starting position.
Benitez’s Background and Achievements
Benitez’s career has included a successful stint at OGC Nice in France, where he made an impressive 188 appearances over six seasons. He joined PSV last summer without a transfer fee and has since played 134 matches, achieving consecutive league titles in 2024 and 2025 during his time in the Netherlands. On the international stage, he earned his first cap for Argentina in March 2024 and has regularly supported Emiliano Martinez as part of the national squad.
Young Talent: Owen Goodman
In related news, Crystal Palace’s young goalkeeper Owen Goodman is in talks to go out on loan to Huddersfield Town, as the League One club is eager to finalize an arrangement. The 21-year-old showed impressive form while on loan at Wimbledon last season, earning the golden glove award and contributing to their playoff promotion.
Although Wimbledon hopes to retain him for another year, it appears Goodman is leaning toward a move to Yorkshire. Goodman, who is in contention for a call-up to the England U21s ahead of the upcoming European Championships, is also eligible to represent Canada or Nigeria. His father, Phil, revealed that his son favors playing for Canada, contingent upon obtaining Canadian citizenship, which he is actively pursuing.
Conclusion
Walter Benitez brings an extensive background of experience to Crystal Palace. He notably ranked among the top three goalkeepers across Europe’s major leagues for the 2018-19 season, demonstrating remarkable shot-stopping ability by preventing 13 goals more than expected, based on the quality of shots faced. His insights into maintaining composure under pressure and his adept distribution skills highlight his capability to adapt to various playing conditions, strengthening Palace’s goalkeeper lineup significantly.
