Crystal Palace Football Club has confirmed that Dougie Freedman, their highly regarded sporting director, is leaving the club to take up a new position overseas, marking the end of a significant chapter in the club’s recent history. The announcement, made late on March 17, 2025, has sent ripples through the Premier League, given Freedman’s instrumental role in shaping the Eagles into a competitive top-flight side since his appointment in 2017.
Freedman, a former player and manager for Palace, has been credited with transforming the club’s recruitment strategy, bringing in talents such as Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise (now at Bayern Munich), Marc Guehi, and Adam Wharton. His knack for identifying potential in the Championship and beyond, combined with his role in securing manager Oliver Glasner in February 2024, earned him a reputation as one of English football’s most astute sporting directors. His departure comes as a surprise, especially after he signed a new contract with Palace in May 2024, fending off interest from Newcastle United and Manchester United.
In a statement released by the club, Freedman expressed gratitude and pride in his tenure. “I would like to extend my thanks to Steve Parish, the other owners, and to all the staff, managers, and players who have been at the club during my time here,” he said. “It’s been an honour to represent the club, and I am incredibly proud of the work that’s been done, with the Chairman’s support, in growing the football club into its current position. Crystal Palace is and will always remain in my heart, and I will continue to look for results and follow the club’s progress closely.”
Club chairman Steve Parish praised Freedman’s contributions, noting his indelible mark on Palace’s development. “Dougie has been instrumental in everything we have done over the past eight years and indeed had a huge impact before that as manager and, of course, as a player,” Parish said. “I have enjoyed working with him immensely and wish him every success for the future. Dougie leaves behind an excellent and well-structured sporting department that I’m sure will continue to go from strength to strength.”
While Crystal Palace did not specify Freedman’s next destination, reports suggest he is set to join Al-Diriyah, a newly promoted club in Saudi Arabia’s second division, as their sporting director. Sources indicate that the role could extend beyond football, potentially involving oversight of multiple sports under the Diriyah Company, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The move, which has been in discussion for at least a month, accelerated in recent days, culminating in his exit from Selhurst Park.
Freedman’s departure poses challenges for Palace as they head into a pivotal summer transfer window. With key players like Eze and Guehi attracting interest from bigger clubs, and manager Glasner’s contract negotiations on the horizon, the club must now decide how to fill the void left by Freedman. Iain Moody, a former Palace sporting director who resigned in 2014 amid controversy, has been linked with a more prominent role. Moody has been working as a consultant for Palace in recent years, but any appointment could stir debate among fans given his past.