Dutch veteran Davids joins Crystal Palace

Former Juventus and Ajax star Edgar Davids completed his surprise move to English second tier club Crystal Palace on Friday.

Davids enjoyed a hugely successful career playing for some of Europe’s biggest clubs and featured in four Champions League finals, winning the competition with Ajax in 1995.

But the veteran Dutch midfielder was released by Ajax two years ago and hasn’t played a competitive match since.

However, south London outfit Palace have managed to persuade the 37-year-old to resume his career in the English Championship.

Davids, who also starred for AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Tottenham, has agreed a pay-as-you-play deal with Palace and will be presented to the club’s fans at their home match against Ipswich on Saturday.

He had been close to finding a club last year but a proposed move to Leicester, also in the Championship, fell through at the last minute.

Davids played 74 times for Holland, featured in one World Cup and three European Championships and won three Italian league titles, but now he will be plying his trade at unglamorous venues like Doncaster and Scunthorpe.

He insists he is looking forward to the challenge and told Palace’s website: “It’s an exciting time for the football club, and it is an exciting time for me. I just want to enjoy football and show what I can do.”

Palace had come out of administration just hours before Davids made his move and Eagles manager George Burley admitted the deal would further restore the feelgood factor to a team that only avoided relegation on the final day of last season.

“We spoke to Edgar in the week and the boy showed enthusiasm,” Burley said.

“He has been training with Ajax but now it’s good to see us agree terms with him.”