Serial Blues loanee Jonny Williams has signed a contract extension through to the summer of 2019 with his parent club Crystal Palace.

Williams, 23, whose contract was due to end next summer, spent the whole of 2016/17 with the Blues, his fourth loan at Portman Road, but was restricted to only one start and seven sub appearances by injuries, first to his knee, then his shoulder and finally to a hamstring.

"I am delighted to be signing this new contract at a club that holds a special place in my heart having been here since I joined the academy at the age of eight,” the Wales international told the Palace official website. “I am looking forward to starting my 17th season at the club.

"With the club’s fifth season in the Premier League coming up I will be working hard through pre-season so I am ready for the challenge ahead at the start of another campaign.”

Speaking about Williams towards the end of the season, manager Mick McCarthy played down the chances of him returning to Town in 2017/18.

“I wonder whether he’d want to come here, he’s had nothing but injuries," he reflected.

“He was so fabulous the first time he came here, wonderfully gifted and lit the place up with his ability and his pace and trickery and with the smile on his face as well while doing it.

“I’ll never forget his goal against Derby. He was outstanding but that’s not happened since and we’ve had him on two other occasions, he’s just been injured, which is really sad.

“Sad for us and I guess for the club and the fans because everybody loved him, but even sadder for him that his career’s stalled.

“I don’t think that’s going to be the case. I think it’s a big year for Jonny. He needs to go and play somewhere and play regularly.”

Meanwhile, former Hearts full-back Callum Paterson, who was linked with the Blues in January, has joined Cardiff City on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal.

Photo: Action Images

hoppy added 14:33 - Jun 7 Surprised by this. Good player when fit, but unfortunately that wasn't often enough when he was with us.
3

12th_Man added 14:39 - Jun 7 For a minute I thought that we had signed him. Thank God we haven't
-1

LimitlessBlue added 14:48 - Jun 7 that is the madness of premier league football, they can afford to offer a new contract to a player who has missed more games than he has played and will no doubt not play for them again.
7

Michael11 added 14:52 - Jun 7 Quite surprised by this. Obviously a brilliant player when he's fit, but that never tends to be more than a couple of weeks at most. I can only presume that they're hoping he'll go on loan and have a spell like his first time here and make a few quid selling him on.
2

NoCanariesAllowed added 15:22 - Jun 7 I do like Jonny, but please let's draw a line under his time at Portman Road now. We need to stop falling back on the same option that we are then fairly quickly deprived of by injury anyway.
6

Nazemariner added 16:20 - Jun 7 I would of loved to have seen Jonny sign a permanent deal with us, but i think we all knew it was never going to happen. I'm more put out by missing out on Paterson. I'd hoped he would be the solution to the RB problem that has blighted us since Makin left.
0

arc added 16:27 - Jun 7 How odd. Palace don't even have a manager, do they?
3

Bluebell added 17:13 - Jun 7 Agree Arc, I was wondering why they have signed him. A new manager might not rate him at all. I guess he will be going loan again but surprised by this. As others have said, a great player when fit but that certainly wasn't very often last season. Even when he was fit, Mick decided not to play him which was strange.
2

Suffolk_n_Good added 18:07 - Jun 7 Had the pleasure to meet Jonny at Vigarage Road when we played there, a lovely chap, however I agree he his far to injury prone & think it's time to cut ties with him, but I wish him well.
3

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:38 - Jun 7 We won't miss him much 'cos he's hardly ever played for us. But I wish him well. On the other point in the article: Warnock seems to have more clout than Mick when it comes to getting possible targets to join the crew.
3

mutters added 20:27 - Jun 7 Anybody know the terms of his contract? He may be on a low wage with big bonus's for playing. Also this could be a move to get a fee for him, though his injury record goes against him. Whatever happens, i wish him well. V talented footballer, nice guy, shame he has been held back by injuries
1

BrettenhamBlue added 02:55 - Jun 8 Strange decision by Palace to be honest. I can see him working hard to get a place there, then getting loaned out yet again to a Championship side for the season.
1

BrettenhamBlue added 02:56 - Jun 8 Paterson would have been a good signing, especially given his versatility. Shame we missed out, yet again.
0

brian_a_mul added 09:05 - Jun 8 Fair play to Palace for giving him a chance. He is a Premier League player when he is fully fit . Best of luck Joniesta. Spence has just signed a two year deal, and Josh Emmanual has another full season under his belt. We dont need a RB at the moment.
1

Ferguson added 09:25 - Jun 8 Good for him. We won't re-sign him though 'cause if Mrs May gets back in there'll be no NHS left to look after his injuries !
4

runningout added 10:41 - Jun 8 admire Palaces confidence
1

dirtydingusmagee added 11:54 - Jun 8 don't ya just love it when the circus is in town .
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls