Crystal Palace have signed Mamadou Sakho permanently after Liverpool received a £26 million bid for the defender.

Sakho shined while on loan at Palace in the second half of last season but the Eagles had found it challenging to agree a deal with Liverpool to sign the Frenchman permanently.

Sakho told the Palace website: "I loved the challenge last year; it was difficult but beautiful & it's why this summer I thought that Palace was the best choice," he said.

Palace have endured a unhappy start to the season, losing their first 3 Premier League games, & will hope that the return of Sakho will make them more tough at the back.