Sears makes Palace switch

26 June 2009 14:55
Neil Warnock has expressed his delight after Freddie Sears completed his loan move to Crystal Palace. Palace agreed a deal with West Ham over the weekend to bring in Sears for the whole of the 2009/10 Championship. The switch has now been finalised and Eagles boss Warnock is looking forward to working with the highly-rated teenager. Sears shot to fame when he scored on debut against Blackburn in March 2008, but he failed to find the net in 22 appearances last season and will now continue his development at Selhurst Park. Warnock told Palace's official website: "We are thrilled to have him on board as we have been chasing Freddie for some time now. "Freddie is an exciting, hard working player and I am sure the fans will take to him very quickly." Brookes contract Meanwhile, another Hammers youngster, Tony Brookes, has been handed his first professional contract at Upton Park. The 18-year-old defender has been with the club for a decade and has agreed a 12-month deal with the Hammers. "It's a great honour to be picked by West Ham to get my first contract, I feel over the moon," he told West Ham's official website. "The club have had many great players come through the ranks and hopefully I can be the next one. "I've been here since I was eight and hopefully I can carry on and get into the first team."

Source: SKY_Sports