---
title: "Crystal Palace: Fans react to James McCarthy’s Celtic move"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/crystal-palace-fans-react-to-james-mccarthys-celtic-move/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Crystal Palace"
published: "2021-08-04T10:15:12Z"
modified: "2021-08-04T10:15:12Z"
---

# Crystal Palace: Fans react to James McCarthy’s Celtic move

**Crystal Palace [confirmed](https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/1422641788683112452) that James McCarthy has joined Celtic on a free transfer on Tuesday.**

As to be expected, a number of Eagles fans have been sharing their thoughts on the news via social media.

The 30-year-old was officially a [free agent](https://twitter.com/GeorgeSessions/status/1410478334220378114) at the beginning of July after his Selhurst Park deal expired. He was one of [11](https://twitter.com/GeorgeSessions/status/1410478334220378114) senior Palace players who were out of contract at the end of the previous campaign, and it has taken almost five weeks for the Irishman to find a new club.

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McCarthy, who made [52](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/james-mccarthy-leaves-crystal-palace/2021-08-03/) Palace appearances after joining from Everton in [2019](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/james-mccarthy-leaves-crystal-palace/2021-08-03/), has penned a [four-year deal](https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/august/Double-signing-delight-as-Joe-Hart-and-James-McCarthy-join-Celtic/) at Celtic Park. He [won praise](https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/crystal-palace/mccarthy-milivojevic-eagles-hodgson-man-city-fans-react) from numerous supporters for some of his performances in an Eagles shirt, but [never managed to establish himself](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/31281/History/James-McCarthy) as a fixed starter under Roy Hodgson and had the fifth-lowest [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/162/Show/England-Crystal-Palace) rating out of anyone in the south Londoners’ squad last season.

The central midfielder, who is a [boyhood Celtic fan](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/james-mccarthy-agrees-celtic-transfer-24679554), was announced alongside [Joe Hart](https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/august/Double-signing-delight-as-Joe-Hart-and-James-McCarthy-join-Celtic/) by the Scottish giants on Tuesday afternoon, with Palace posting a few hours later regarding the 30-year-old.

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### Palace fans react

Here is what these Palace supporters had to say in reply to the club’s [official tweet](https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/1422641788683112452), with mixed feelings on McCarthy’s departure.

**“This hurts so so so much”**

[Credit: @Kevbartleyy](https://twitter.com/Kevbartleyy/status/1422642021198667790)

**“Pain”**

[Credit: @Adam\_Palace](https://twitter.com/Adam_Palace/status/1422641866617540608)

**“All the best lad”**

[Credit: @joe\_cpfc\_01](https://twitter.com/joe_cpfc_01/status/1422642589405155330)

**“finally, waste of space, never saw him do a thing”**

[Credit: @cosmoreed](https://twitter.com/cosmoreed/status/1422642087569379328)

**“You love to see it”**

[Credit: @charley\_derrick](https://twitter.com/charley_derrick/status/1422641900654260224)

**“Phew. Was awful for us.”**

[Credit: @audreysprayer](https://twitter.com/audreysprayer/status/1422643690309365760)

***In other news:*** [***Many CPFC fans react to the Eagles’ interest in this Ligue 1 ace.***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/crystal-palace/crystal-palace-fans-react-to-youcef-atal-update/)