Augsburg rebuffs €20m Palace bid for Chrislain Matsima, seeks more

FC Augsburg have turned down a €20 million offer from Crystal Palace for 24‑year‑old central defender Chrislain Matsima, club director Florian Plettenberg confirmed on Friday, noting that the defender has already completed a full verbal agreement with the Premier League side and is eager to join, but FCA are holding out for a better proposal.

The club’s announcement referred to the defender as Chrislain Mastima, though he is commonly listed as Chrislain Matsima. The typo was noted in the official communication.

Crystal Palace intend to make Matsima their first‑choice centre‑back after completing the sale of Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea. The English side view the 24‑year‑old as the ideal replacement in their starting eleven.

Augsburg have signalled they will wait for an improved proposal later today, Friday 24 July. The current bid remains at €20 million.

Matsima arrived at Augsburg from Monaco in 2025 for a €5 million fee. Since joining, he has appeared in 48 Bundesliga matches, scoring two goals and providing two assists.

Standing at 1.94 m, the defender possesses the physical profile suited to the Premier League. He is also praised for his composure on the ball and ability to play out from the back.

TransferMarkt values Matsima at €22 million. Should the transfer materialise, it would represent a significant addition for Pierre Sage’s side.