Crystal Palace’s move for Darío Osorio has been presented by Midtjylland as the latest example of the Danish club’s methodical approach to developing and selling young talent. The Chile forward joined Palace on loan with an obligation to buy, with the permanent fee set at £22.3m next summer and a further £3.4m available in bonuses.
The transfer was confirmed almost two hours after the Premier League deadline had passed, following a late change in Palace’s plans. The club had pursued Lyon forward Malick Fofana before returning to Osorio when Fofana chose Sunderland, according to Midtjylland technical director Kristian Kjær.
Osorio has already made an impact in south London. After appearing from the bench against Fulham in the Premier League, he made his first Palace start in the 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over Middlesbrough. The 22-year-old is predominantly left-footed and usually operates as an inverted right-winger, although he can also play in the No 10 position.
Midtjylland identified Osorio while he was playing for Universidad de Chile and signed him in August 2023, despite competition from RB Leipzig, Milan and Atalanta. He scored eight league goals in his first season in Denmark, and Kjær believes his progress had reached the point where he was ready to move beyond the Danish top flight.
The club’s development work extended beyond the pitch. Osorio was supported with changes to his nutrition and daily habits, while Midtjylland also provides mandatory English lessons at least three times a week. With a squad containing 17 nationalities, Kjær says communication is central to helping players understand their coaches and settle into an international environment.
Kjær described Osorio and former Midtjylland striker Franculino Djú as examples of the pathway the club is trying to create. Palace’s deal for Osorio could become the most expensive sale in Danish top-flight history, underlining the scale of the next step in the Chilean’s career.
