Cisse completes switch to Eagles

Senegal midfielder Aliou Cisse has joined Barclays Premiership newcomers Crystal Palace on a year’s loan from Birmingham.

The 28-year-old played in the 2002 World Cup, but found himself out of favour at St Andrews last season.

Cisse said he had other options, but was impressed by Palace boss Iain Dowie and is keen to help extend the Eagles' stay in the top flight after they won the First Division play-offs.

“There has been interest from other clubs, but Aliou wants to go to Palace,” said Cisse’s agent Willie McKay yesterday.

“He is keen to stay in the Premiership and help Palace survive in their first year back in the Premiership, like he did in his first season at Birmingham.”

After helping to keep Birmingham in the Premiership in the club’s first season back in the top flight Cisse fell out of favour with manager Steve Bruce last summer.

Cisse, a signing from Paris St Germain, turned up late for pre-season training and made 17 appearances for the St Andrews club last season, picking up seven yellow cards and one red.

Cisse becomes Dowie’s sixth summer signing, with Emmerson Boyce, Mark Hudson, Julian Speroni, Joonas Kolkka and Hungarian international striker Sandor Torghelle all now on board.