Townsend officially transferred to Goodison Park on Tuesday with a free transfer, signed a two-year contract, and reunited with Rafael Benitez after leaving the palace after the contract expires.
In a message shared on Twitter, Townsend thanked Crystal Palace and the supporters of the club for what he called five years of “stunning years and countless memories.”
“I want to especially thank the chairman for taking me to Selhurst and giving me the opportunity to wear red and blue clothes,” he said, and singled out Steve Parish, He signed the former England international from Newcastle for 14 million pounds in 2016.
Townsend also thanked former palace managers Sam Allardyce and Roy Hodgson for their “trust” in him.
He continued: “To the Palace fans. The beating heart of the club. To each of you… Thank you. Thank you for all your support. It is this support that makes the club and Selhurst Park so special.
“It’s a pity that we didn’t say goodbye, but we will meet soon, and I am already looking forward to returning to Selhurst when we meet again.”
Townsend played 185 times for the Palace in all competitions and scored 16 goals. He signed a modified David Bowie lyrics. The club’s loyal people chanted for him: “There is a star player on the right.”
