Romain Esse: Club Brugge linked with Crystal Palace winger

Romain Esse, the England and Ivory Coast winger at Crystal Palace, has been linked with a move to Club Brugge in the Belgian top flight.

Esse, 21, returned to Palace on 31 May after spending the second half of the 2025-26 season on loan at Coventry City. Coventry were crowned English second-tier champions during his spell, while Palace won the Conference League, FA Cup and English Super Cup.

The right winger made 11 Premier League appearances for Palace, scoring once and providing one assist. He also recorded 78 Championship appearances, eight goals and two assists during his career in England’s second tier.

Palace signed Esse from Millwall in January 2025 for €14.2m. He had made his senior breakthrough at Millwall after progressing through the club’s academy and joined Palace with his long-term future secured by a contract running until 30 June 2030.

The reported link with Club Brugge comes with Esse valued at €10m, although no transfer fee or agreement has been reported. His return from Coventry leaves his immediate position at Palace as the key factor in any potential move to Belgium.

Esse is a left-footed right winger and remains contracted to Palace, who secured three major honours in the 2025-26 campaign.