Crystal Palace nears €30M deal for Joel Ordóñez from Club Brugge

Crystal Palace has reached an agreement with Club Brugge to sign Ecuadorian defender Joel Ordóñez. The deal is reportedly structured as a loan with an obligation to buy, valued at approximately 30 million euros plus bonuses.

While Aston Villa had previously been a leading contender for the 22-year-old, Crystal Palace successfully overtook them in negotiations. Club Brugge is expected to receive a significant windfall, including a sell-on clause exceeding 10 percent. However, the transfer is not yet official as Ordóñez must first pass a medical examination. The player is currently recovering from a metatarsal injury sustained in July.

Club Brugge chairman Bart Verhaeghe noted that the player's injury has impacted the final transfer value, which is roughly 10 million euros lower than the club's initial target of 40 million euros. Verhaeghe also used the situation to criticize FIFA and UEFA, arguing that clubs should not bear the full economic risk when international players are injured during major tournaments.