Palace midfielder finally set to realise his dream of playing for the Gunners
Crystal Palace's English midfielder Eberechi Eze controls the ball during the English FA Community Shield match against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in London on August 10.
Crystal Palace's English midfielder Eberechi Eze controls the ball during the English FA Community Shield match against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in London on August 10.
AFP-GLYN KIRK
Tottenham had everything planned for Eberechi Eze. Player agreed, club agreed and they thought the job is done. Then Kai Havertz got injured and Arsenal came storming back into a transfer they had walked away from weeks earlier.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Crystal Palace for Eze. The fee will match the £68 million release clause that has now expired, the same amount Tottenham were prepared to pay. Personal terms are already sorted.
The 27-year-old is expected to play for Palace against Fredrikstad in Thursday’s Conference League playoff before having his Arsenal medical. Sporting director Andrea Berta and vice-chairman Tim Lewis sealed the deal, making Eze the seventh signing of Berta’s busy first summer since arriving from Atletico Madrid.
For Eze, this feels like destiny. The boyhood Arsenal fan came through their Hale End academy before being released at 13. Later he had mentioned in an interview that it was so painful for him to leave as he had always dreamt of playing for Arsenal.
Disappointment didn’t end there. Rejections from Fulham, Millwall and Reading followed until QPR gave him his chance.
His 2020 move to Palace transformed everything. He became central to their historic FA Cup run and earned England recognition during his time at Palace. Now he’s returning to fulfil that childhood dream after years of proving his doubters wrong.
Arsenal desperately need his services, a perfect fit. That left flank has been their weakest area, and Eze can operate as a No 10, left winger, or left centre midfielder. With Havertz facing time out injured, the timing couldn’t be better.
From academy reject to England international to Arsenal homecoming. The circle is complete. Eze’s dream has come true. Also, the Gunners will be feeling ecstatic, considering their old boy has already beaten their bitter rivals Spurs in the North London derby in the transfer market before joining them.