Neil Shipperley has agreed a three-year contract with former club Palace because, despite interest from three other clubs, in his eyes “there was only one”.

Shipperley, 28, is set to officially rejoin Palace this week, almost five years after he was sold to Nottingham Forest for £1million to ease the Eagles’ financial problems.

After a spell at Barnsley, last season was Shipps’ most successful to date, captaining the Dons to 10th in Division One and scoring 24 goals. But once again he found himself sacrificed to ease his club’s cash crisis.

The clubs have agreed an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £400,000, which will cover Wimbledon’s out-standing rent payments.

Shipperley told the Guardian: “I am absolutely delighted to be a Palace player again. There were a number of clubs sniffing around but in my eyes there was only one. I have very fond memories and it wasn’t a hard decision to come back.

“In the state of the game I am really happy to have three years. I like to be settled but it seems that every two years I have been on the move.” Manager Steve Kember said: “There is a little bit of red tape with the administrator before we officially get his registration.

“He looks a better player now than I can remember him a couple of years ago.

“The players all respect Neil’s ability, and from the fans’ point of view he was a real favourite.

Although most of the players have now gone from Palace’s Premiership era, Shipperley says it is nice to be back in familiar surroundings.

He said: “I know the club and a lot of the staff, so it’s not going to be a problem settling in.

“I didn’t want to leave in the first place. The club is ambitious, with an ambitious chairman and it has come on a lot with the new training ground. The club is geared up for a promotion push.” Now 28, Shipperley feels his experiences with Forest, Barsnley and Wimbledon will make a better player for Palace this time around.

“Experience in football is crucial. In the four years since I left I have had a lot of clubs but I feel the experience does show. The club needs to get promoted and we are all geared up for it.

“I have been really impressed with the standard of the young lads and the established first team players in my short spell training with them.” Shipperley scored 20 goals in 49 league games for Palace between 1996 and 1998.