Palace sign Swaby from Milan & loan Chelsea's Nouwen

Allyson Swaby played at the 2019 and 2023 Women's World Cups for Jamaica

Crystal Palace have signed Jamaica defender Allyson Swaby from Italian club AC Milan for an undisclosed fee.

Swaby, 28, has played top-flight football in the United States and Italy and has committed to a two-and-a-half-year deal with Palace.

Palace have also signed Chelsea defender Aniek Nouwen on loan for the remainder of the season.

Defender Nouwen, 25, will be looking to return to football with the Eagles after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury which she sustained in late 2023.

Swaby is the third permanent signing of the January window for Palace, following the arrivals of Canada forward Clarissa Larisey and Finland midfielder Ria Oling.

Swaby's sister, Chantelle, plays as a midfielder for fellow Women's Super League side Leicester City.

Laura Kaminski, the Palace manager, described the Jamaican as an "excellent" signing who would provide "experience, leadership and real defensive quality".

The Eagles, who were promoted as winners of the Championship last season, are bottom of the WSL and four points adrift of safety.

Kaminski added of Swaby, who has featured for her country at two World Cups: "She's played at the highest level in both club and international football, and we're excited to see the impact she'll have here at Palace."