As loyal as they come
Appointed club captain in the summer of 2023, Joel Ward is one of the club's most loyal servants, having been a core member of the team since 2012 through promotion, an FA Cup final and Palace's longest top-flight spell.
2JoelWard
out on loan
Def
Defender
Date of Birth
29.10.8929 October 1989
Country
Joined Team
29.05.1229 May 2012
All time
Palace career
221
Appearances
5
Goals
Awards & Honours
Young Player of the Season
Crystal Palace 2014
PFA Community Champion Award
2020/21
Crystal Palace Player of the Month
October 2021
He made his 350th appearance for the club during the 2023/24 season, overtaking Nigel Martyn to move eighth in the all-time standings. His consistency on the right-flank has also seen him overtake Wilfried Zaha's previous record tally of 292 Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace.
After arriving at Selhurst Park in 2012, Ward established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the Palace squad that sealed promotion to the Premier League, and has helped maintain their top-flight status ever since.
At the start of the 2008/09 season, an 18-year-old Ward joined fellow south-coast side Bournemouth from Portsmouth on a season-long loan deal, but the Cherries were relegated at the end of the campaign. He suffered the same fate at Pompey in the following year as they dropped out of the Premier League, playing three times in the competition.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the club, Ward stayed on for the 2010/11 season and quickly became the first-choice right-back, making 46 appearances as the club finished 16th in the Championship.
His good form continued the following year and he scored against arch-rivals Southampton in a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park but with Pompey desperate for funds to stay afloat, Ward was sold to Palace, having made 96 appearances for his hometown club.
After being snapped up by the Eagles, the right-back played 30 times for Palace during a successful debut season, and missed only four matches the following campaign as he showed his versatility by playing at left-back and central midfield when requested.
His form in a variety of positions saw him scoop the club's Young Player of the Year award for 2014, and he went on to play all but one league game in 2014/15, scoring his first goal for the south Londoners in a 3-1 win against Queens Park Rangers.
In 2015/16, Ward would follow this up with three more strikes, becoming Palace's record Premier League appearance-maker after reaching winning his 100th for the club in a 1-1 draw away to Arsenal in April 2016. The right-back would also play all 120 minutes of the 2016 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United at Wembley Stadium, having played the full match in all five rounds prior.
After playing every single Palace Premier League fixture in 2016/17, Ward continued to play regularly for the Eagles in the seasons that followed, with only one injury-hit campaign – in 2018/19 – restricting his game time.
Having signed a three-year contract extension in July 2018, Ward committed to spending over a decade with Palace when he signed a further two-year extension in July 2021, and earned Player of the Month for October 2021.
In 2021/22, Ward reached the milestone of 250 Premier League appearances, captaining the side on the occasion and helping the Eagles to reach the FA Cup semi-finals. The following season, he wore the armband on 14 different times.
At the beginning of 2023/24, Ward was named the new club captain of Crystal Palace on a permanent basis, having been chosen by manager Roy Hodgson to succeed Luka Milivojevic. Announcing his role, Hodgson described Ward as "the ultimate professional."
Player StatisticsCareer
Goals12
Appearances340
Ward highlights
View All Videos- 01:25
South Norwood Community Kitchen
- 02:10
Joel Ward on 300 PL Appearances
- 01:49
Ward reflects on narrow defeat
- 02:44
Joel Ward reflects on a point against Luton
- 03:59
Ward reacts to the Everton result
- 00:00
Palace players visit kids at a Croydon hospital
- 02:17
The Captain assesses a disappointing night at Selhurst
- 17:02
Joel Ward pre-match interview: West Ham (A)
- 02:34
Joel Ward reacts to tough defeat away
- 02:00
Captain gives his thoughts on defeat to Everton
- 01:27
A Century at Selhurst Park: 1924 - 2024 Sport Chronograph
- 00:00
The captain reacts to injustice at Villa Park
- 01:31
Joel Ward reacts to a narrow defeat to Arsenal