Eberechi Eze
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal are on the brink of sealing a sensational £68 million move for Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, withThe Athletic’s David Ornstein reporting that the 27-year-old has agreed personal terms with the north London club.
The move follows a deal in principle reached between Arsenal and Palace, with the transfer expected to be finalised after Palace’s UEFA Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad on Thursday.
The £68m fee matches the value of Eze’s recently expired release clause and represents a major coup for the Gunners, who fended off late competition from Tottenham Hotspur to secure the England international’s signature.
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Eze, a boyhood Arsenal fan and former academy player, is due to undergo a medical in the coming days as Mikel Arteta adds another high-profile recruit to his squad. His arrival follows big-money moves for striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP and winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea, reflecting Arsenal’s determination to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze (Image credit: Getty Images)
The urgency behind Arsenal’s pursuit of Eze was heightened by Kai Havertz’s recent knee injury, which, while not an ACL tear, has underlined the need for more depth in the final third. Eze’s versatility, capable of operating as a No. 10, on the left wing, or in a deeper midfield role offers Arteta both tactical flexibility and creative firepower alongside Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Sporting director Andrea Berta and vice-chairman Tim Lewis were key figures in driving the deal, reviving Arsenal’s interest in Eze after earlier concerns over Palace’s £60m-plus valuation. Tottenham had also held advanced talks with Palace chairman Steve Parish, but Eze’s preference for Arsenal proved decisive.
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For the Gunners, the signing addresses a long-standing need for greater productivity on the left flank, where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have shared duties without consistently delivering elite output.
Described as a “double threat” by data analyst Mark Carey for his blend of dribbling and incisive passing, Eze has registered 40 goals in 169 appearances for Palace, including a memorable match-winner in last season’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Eze’s return to Arsenal carries added emotional weight, having once been released by the club as a teenager before rising to prominence at Palace. Now an established England international with 12 caps, his arrival is set to ignite excitement among fans as Arsenal aim to push their title ambitions to the next level.
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