Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of Blues target Joel Ward from Portsmouth for a fee of £400,000. Town, Leeds, Blackpool, Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday had also been in the hunt for the 22-year-old defender or midfielder.

Ward has signed a four-year deal with the Eagles, who emerged as favourites for his signature last week despite offering personal terms believed to be worth less than were on offer at some of the other interested clubs. Palace’s comparative closeness to his family in Portsmouth is thought to have been a significant factor in his decision.

The one-time Bournemouth loanee opting not to join the Blues will be a blow to manager Paul Jewell, who had been after Ward since January when a bid was accepted but personal terms turned down.

In March, Ward was at Portman Road to talk about a loan move before the deadline but Pompey’s administrator pulled the plug on the switch with the crisis club then still having a chance of salvaging their Championship status.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

NoCanariesAllowed added 19:54 - May 28 Well to look at it another way - If he were that big a loss, he probably wouldn't have ended up at Palace. Keep Calm & Carry On.
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simoitfc added 19:55 - May 28 Botherd.lets have Hewitt instead
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rosseden added 20:00 - May 28 would have been solid enough for the money but lets be realistic, hes not the messiah......
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SheffieldBlue1 added 20:01 - May 28 You mean to say, he's not actually going to join us? I thought it was an elaborate ruse to fool us all, to lure us into a false sense of security. I've already got 'WARD' on the back of my 2012'13 shirt... We better sign someone called Ward otherwise i'm going to be cheesed off.
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bedsitfc added 20:02 - May 28 oh well would have been good a young version of edwards. but being young he prob still wants home comforts
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RetroBlue added 20:02 - May 28 You could alter it to "who's Ward"?
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WeirdFishes added 20:03 - May 28 have a nice life...
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RYITFC added 20:05 - May 28 Clearly a man that lacks ambition, we don't need that type of person round the dressing room
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s6blue added 20:07 - May 28 bovd
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seeyounexttuesday added 20:10 - May 28 BRING BACK BIG TITUS BRAMBLE!!!!!
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wrightyblue added 20:11 - May 28 Carnt wait to play palace next season! Huge welcome expected for ward at portman rd!
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itfcluke95 added 20:15 - May 28 3 days ago we first heard about Hewitt, Since january weve heard about Ward. Hewitt is meant to sign tomorrow BECAUSE he wants to play for us. Ward was just messing us about, so glad he aint signed for us!
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Mr_Evans added 20:19 - May 28 I think if any Town fan gives this guy stick then they're pathetic! The player kept his cards close to his chest yes but, he hardly stated publicaly he would sign for us, so why should he receive bad criticism. He just didn't want to join us? So what!? It's SC & PJ who's job it is to convince players to join this club, I see it as a failure on their part if they really 'wanted him that bad'.

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Len_Brennan added 20:19 - May 28 Seems like a decent player who would probably have done well for us BUT what we have needed for years now is a dedicated right back, not another utility player who can do a job for us in that position. For that reason I am more excited by the prospect of the Hewitt signing. It is disappointing that we managed to get none of the 3 Portsmouth players targeted in January, all decent players at Championship level. May well have kept Pompey out of Administration & 10 extra points could have given them enough fight to beat the drop. Funny old game.

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Skip73 added 20:23 - May 28 Sheffield; you're seriously saying you got Wards name on you're new shirt before he signed for us? What a stupid thing to do, you deserve to be cheesed off. As for not getting Ward no big loss.
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Mark added 20:27 - May 28 > I've already got 'WARD' on the back of my 2012'13 shirt... Hahaha. You'll have to stick an 'E' and a 'D' in front of it and an 'S' after it.
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slowerball added 20:36 - May 28 http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10323~2790731,00.html No way we would have offered a 4 year deal.... maybe that was the clincher?
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manualthetisfanclub added 20:42 - May 28 At last he's gone!!! Let's all move on, had a gut full of this ol story dragging!
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NastyPasty added 20:50 - May 28 As for Ward.. He didn't get his wage demands earlier this year n told 2 do 1. Now he's probably gonna be on same wage or lower.. And I nor most probably any True Ipswich fan would wanna see a new signing who has no pride in putting on the shirt.. Ta ta Ward. Dont need your kind in this club. Come on Hewitt... Hope we get him. I think he'll be a far far better signing. And it looks promising this week n not in 5 months time. COYB

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afrodids added 20:53 - May 28 I think sheffield may have had his tongue firmly lodged in his cheek when he made his comment LOL :)
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wayway added 20:55 - May 28 Oh yes, RYITFC, Ward does have ambition. Thats why he did not come to a club that clearly has no ambition
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dvdkev added 21:00 - May 28 if he wanted to play for us he would have signed ages ago if he doesnt wanna join then he can jog on and crash and burn at palace
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Garv added 21:02 - May 28 I think (I hope) the post about Ward's name on the guy's shirt is a joke. 4 years? Fair enough, but if it doesn't work out then they'll be a bit stuck. I'm happy for Edwards to continue at right back so we can afford for Hewitt to progress slowly. Palace can't really do the same as it looks like Clyne will be off. Is he really going to continue living in Portsmouth but play and train in London?? Grow up laddy.

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AlanMahon2011 added 21:50 - May 28 Well done Clegg, idiot.
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h32 added 22:31 - May 28 ...... he's done the right thing - realistic, ambitious Clubs ARE prepared to offer good 22 year old players 3/4 year contracts because it is the current 'ask' and 'expect'. We as a Club no longer fit that criteria - therefore lose out. We probably offered him 1/2 years max - currently not at the races for this kind of player sadly.
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