Crystal Palace sign striker Connor Wickham from Sunderland

Wickham scored six goals in 40 appearances for Sunderland last season

Crystal Palace have signed Connor Wickham from Sunderland on a five-year deal for an initial fee of £7m.

Wickham, an £8m signing from Ipswich in 2011, signed a new four-year deal with Sunderland in December.

The 22-year-old spent four years on Wearside, playing 91 times for the club and scoring 15 goals.

Wickham told Palace's official club website: "I needed a fresh start. I had four years up north and it's been a bit stop-start."

The fee for Wickham could rise to £9m depending on his performances at Selhurst Park.

He scored six goals in 40 appearances for Sunderland last season, and scored five crucial goals in three games as Sunderland avoided relegation in April 2014.

"Now I've come back home and I can settle down and see my family a bit more and hopefully let my football do the talking," Wickham added.

The forward becomes Palace's fourth signing of the summer, following goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, midfielder Yohan Cabaye and striker Patrick Bamford, who has joined the Eagles on loan from Chelsea.

Black Cats boss Dick Advocaat had already said his club had too many strikers with Steven Fletcher, Danny Graham and Jermain Defoe in the squad.

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