DONE DEAL: Crystal Palace pair Luke Plange and Jake O'Brien move to RWD Molenbeek | OneFootball

Crystal Palace pair Luke Plange and Jake O'Brien have joined Belgian side RWD Molenbeek on loan, subject to international clearance.

Plange, 19, and O'Brien, 21, will spend the rest of 2022/23 at the Edmond Machtens stadium as Molenbeek look to gain promotion from the Belgian First Division B.

Centre-back O'Brien initially joined Palace on loan from Cork City in February 2021, before making the move to south London permanent in July 2021. His performances for Paddy McCarthy's Under-23s in 2021/22 earned him a contract extension and half-season loan to Swindon Town midway through the campaign.

Forward Plange signed in January 2022 from Derby County. He penned a three-and-a-half-year deal and was immediately loaned back to Derby for the remainder of the 21/22 season. He notched four goals and two assists in 26 appearances for the Rams in 21/22.

Commenting on the move, Plange said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Jake and me. Personally, I'm looking forward to it. It will be a completely different challenge to play in a new country and in a new league.

“I hope to learn a lot at Molenbeek and help them achieve their goal of promotion to the top-flight."

O'Brien also told Palace's website: “Playing in Belgium will be a new challenge, but I'm really up for it.

“It might be tricky at first, but I will work hard to establish myself in the Molenbeek squad and press on from here."