Zavier Gozo has described his move from Real Salt Lake to Crystal Palace as a major adjustment, with the American attacker now competing for opportunities in the Premier League after spending his entire life in Utah. The change has also brought a first senior cap for the United States, less than five months after he was left out of Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup squad.
Gozo said Palace’s reputation for developing attacking players helped convince him to make the move. He was also attracted by the club’s recent success, European football and the presence of fellow American Chris Richards, who has become an important player for Palace since joining in 2022.
The winger has made three appearances from the bench for Palace in all competitions so far. He believes the experience has shown him the scale of the challenge: the tempo is faster, defenders receive more support and the spaces he found in MLS are much harder to exploit in England.
Gozo identified his physical game and decision-making as key areas for improvement. He wants to become better at using his body to protect the ball or win fouls, while also learning when to take an extra touch, play first-time or attack an opponent directly.
The transition has involved more than a change of country. At Real Salt Lake, Gozo was a homegrown player who had developed a close relationship with the supporters. At Palace, he carries the expectations attached to an eight-figure transfer and must establish himself in a squad operating at a higher level.
Despite those pressures, Gozo sees the difficulty as part of his development. He believes Palace provide an environment in which he can continue learning while being tested at the highest level, adding that discomfort is unavoidable for a player seeking to reach the top.
