Chrislain Matsima: Crystal Palace eye Augsburg’s France-Congo defender in €22m move

Crystal Palace are weighing a move for Augsburg centre-back Chrislain Matsima, the France-Congo defender who has emerged as a potential addition to the Premier League club’s back line. The 24-year-old, who joined Augsburg on a permanent deal last summer and is under contract until 30 June 2030, is currently valued at around €22m.

Matsima has established himself in the Bundesliga since arriving in Germany from Monaco, first on loan in August 2024 before the transfer was made permanent on 1 July 2025. He has made 48 Bundesliga appearances, scoring twice and registering two assists, adding top-flight German experience to the Ligue 1 minutes he accumulated earlier in his career.

Born in Colombes and standing at 1.93m, Matsima offers a physically imposing profile at the heart of defence and is a right-footed centre-back by trade. His displays in Germany have followed loans from Monaco to Lorient and Clermont Foot, where he gained regular senior game time before Augsburg moved to secure him long term.

Any deal for Matsima would require Palace to negotiate with a club in a strong position, with Augsburg having tied the defender to a contract that still has four years left to run. For now, Matsima remains an integral part of the Bundesliga side’s plans after Augsburg invested an initial €5m to sign him permanently ahead of the 2025-26 season.