According to Fabrizio Romano, agreement was reached on Tuesday. ESPN reports that Lens will receive a total compensation package of up to €5 million — an initial €3 million with a further €2 million in performance-related bonuses — to release Sage from the final two years of his contract.
The appointment confirms that Crystal Palace moved decisively once their preferred candidate became unavailable. The south London club had held lengthy discussions with Andoni Iraola, the former Bournemouth manager, before Liverpool moved swiftly to appoint him following their decision to dismiss Arne Slot. That development left Palace without their top target and accelerated the pursuit of Sage.
Sage spent one season at Lens, having arrived at the Bollaert-Delelis Stadium in July 2025. In that single campaign he guided the club to a second-place finish in Ligue 1, securing Champions League qualification — just six points behind champions Paris Saint-Germain. He was named Ligue 1 manager of the year and oversaw the club's first ever Coupe de France triumph, a 3-1 victory over OGC Nice at the Stade de France on May 22.
Those achievements prompted Lens owner Joseph Oughourlian to express disappointment at losing his manager after one season, though he ultimately respected Sage's desire to take the Premier League opportunity.
Sage, a methodical tactician known for a high-press, direct approach, previously spent two seasons at Olympique Lyonnais, where he stabilised the club following a difficult period. His time at Lyon ended in January 2025 and he moved to Lens six months later.
He inherits a Crystal Palace squad that won the UEFA Conference League last month under Oliver Glasner, who has now departed, and will have access to Europa League football in his first season in south London.
Glasner left Palace having described chairman Steve Parish's level of support as inadequate. He is now in discussions with AC Milan.
Sage will be formally unveiled this week.