Tottenham Hotspur’s move for Eberechi Eze was hijacked by Arsenal.
The England international has been one of the biggest names in the transfer window in recent weeks after it became clear that he would be on the move.
Arsenal showed interest in Eze very early in the summer, but the Gunners’ focus had shifted to an out-and-out left winger after Ethan Nwaneri extended his contract.
That opened the door for Tottenham to land Eze, but after Kai Havertz’s injury, Arsenal pounced and pipped their local rivals to the Crystal Palace star’s signature.
🚨❤️🤍 BREAKING: Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, here we go! Verbal agreement in place between all parties.
Crystal Palace to receive package in excess of £60m as Eze preferred #AFC over Spurs.
Arsenal win race over Tottenham, been in advanced talks for days but never sealed. pic.twitter.com/nUN2gXXjgY
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 20, 2025
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David Ornstein: What Tottenham were ready to do after hearing about Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze hijack
Eberechi Eze had been on Tottenham’s radar for many years.
Spurs have constantly been linked with a move to sign him over the last few windows, but for one reason or another, no move materialised.
However, earlier in August, TBR Football confirmed, as reported by many others, that Tottenham were close to signing Eze for just over £60 million, including add-ons.
That would’ve been brilliant for Daniel Levy, considering that the value of Eze’s release clause was set at £68 million.
David Ornstein has now revealed that Tottenham were actually ready to increase their offer to the release clause value after finding out that Arsenal were attempting a hijack.
Unfortunately for them, it was too late, as the Gunners were prepared to match that, and Eze chose Arsenal over Spurs.
Ornstein said on The Athletic FC podcast: “What is clear is that Tottenham went to a really far extent on this. They even were prepared to go to the release clause sort of value when it emerged that Arsenal were in.
“But by this point, Arsenal were prepared to match that, and the player wanted Arsenal.
“That’s the crucial factor in this because in that sense, Tottenham couldn’t have done much more other than, yeah, with hindsight, they could have wrapped it up quicker.
“But the player, ultimately, if he really wanted to join another team, Tottenham aren’t going to go to an unreasonable level to convince someone that deep down doesn’t want to be there.”
Tottenham fans are right to blame Daniel Levy for missing out on Eberechi Eze
Tottenham were in a one-horse race to sign Eze for over a week.
Arsenal were content with their options in attacking midfield when Havertz was fit, and Spurs could’ve wrapped up the deal at that stage.
Daniel Levy, however, tried to drive the price down from the value of Eze’s release clause, and that delayed everything.
Daniel Levy, chairman of Tottenham Hotspur FC, looks on
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
Tottenham fans are right to criticise Levy, and their anger will go up even more after hearing some of Ornstein’s comments above.
If Levy was prepared to pay the value of the release clause after Arsenal started their hijack attempt, why didn’t he just do it a week before when nobody else was in the race?
It is a real shame for Tottenham fans that they have missed out on Eze, but Arsenal supporters are absolutely delighted – and rightly so!