18-year-old midfielder Jake Giddings joins Academy

Eighteen-year-old midfielder, Jake Giddings, has signed for Crystal Palace’s Academy on a two-year professional contract.

Academy

Giddings most recently played for West Ham United, who he joined at the age of five, and signs for Palace after a short, successful trial period in March.

Having penned his deal in south London, Giddings explained his motivation for joining the Eagles’ Academy:

“My dad’s side of the family are all West Ham, but my mum’s side are from south London. So they’re all Crystal Palace fans.

“Also, the way Shaun Derry, the Under-23s manager, was, the way the strength and conditioning coaches were, the way they worked with me, spoke to me, they really wanted to push me and that…