Martin Kelly
Martin Kelly

Liverpool have confirmed their defender Martin Kelly has left Anfield on a permanent deal to complete his switch to Crystal Palace on Thursday.

The 24-year-old came up through the club's youth system and made his first team debut in 2008. However, the England international was hardly featured in the Merseyside club's first team and lack of first team appearances has seen him join the Eagles.

"Martin Kelly has today completed a move to Crystal Palace. The 24-year-old has joined the London club on a permanent deal after agreeing terms and passing a medical at Selhurst Park," a statement on Liverpool's official website read.

"Kelly, a product of Liverpool's Academy system, made a total of 62 appearances for the Reds, scoring once, after making his first-team debut against PSV Eindhoven in December 2008. Everybody at the club would like to wish Martin all the best for the future," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Kelly has admitted that he is "over the moon" after completing his switch to Selhurst Park. He completed his medical and signed a three-year deal with Palace.

"I'm over the moon. It was a lot of travelling to get down yesterday, but I'm glad to have signed and I'm looking forward to the weekend," Kelly told Palace's official website.

"I'd heard about a potential move at the start of the summer, but I just wanted to concentrate on playing again in pre-season. I played a lot of games, which is what I needed. I've been out, fit, but not playing competitively all of last season.

"Now is the time at that age where I need to get back to playing week-in week-out. I'm looking forward to playing under Tony [Pulis] and playing regular football again.

"I remember coming here with Liverpool at the back end of last season to the 3-3 draw and the fans were incredible. That was one of the only stadiums I've come to where it felt like Liverpool fans the way they got behind the team on Champions League nights.

"The fans are massive are massive at any club - they were brilliant at Liverpool - and they seem brilliant here. But I've looked around the training ground and all the posters on the wall are about the team. That's what I want, to play for a team," he added.