Crystal Palace Confirm Loan Signing of Sao Paulo Goalkeeper Lucas Perri

Crystal Palace have completed the move for Sao Paulo goalkeeper Lucas Perri, on an initial six-month loan deal, with the option to extend this to a permanent transfer at the end of the season. 

Roy Hodgson's side have been in desperate need for depth between the sticks, after Vicente Guaita and Wayne Hennessey both picked up injuries in their Premier League clash with Watford, leaving 39-year-old Julian Speroni as their sole first-team option. 

After putting pen to paper, Perri told Crystal Palace's official website: "It's an amazing feeling, I'm really glad to join the club. Two months ago, I knew [about] the possibility to join Palace. 

"Since then, I was pretty anxious to be here because I really wanted that. It's huge, it's a really important thing to me. It's the opportunity of my life and I'm going to do whatever it takes."

His deal is understood to be a loan one until the end of the season, though the south London club will have the chance to buy the player outright for around £3m when the time comes. 

James Baylis - AMA/GettyImages

Before the deal was announced, former Sao Paolo coach Michael Beale wrote on Twitter: "Crystal Palace will be getting an outstanding young goalkeeper if this transfer is completed. He has big potential. I believe he will do very well in England."

Perri will be expected to go straight into Palace's side upon his arrival, as the Eagles look to bounce back from their late defeat to Liverpool last time out.