Eberechi Eze
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal have confirmed that new signing Eberechi Eze will wear the club’s iconic No. 10 shirt following his £67.5 million transfer from Crystal Palace.
The announcement, made just hours before the Gunners’ Premier League clash with Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium, has sent fans into raptures, with the 27-year-old’s homecoming hailed as a defining moment in the club’s modern era.
In a statement released on the club’s official website and social media channels, Arsenal declared: “We are delighted to confirm that Eberechi Eze will wear the No. 10 shirt for Arsenal. A player of immense creativity and flair, Eberechi embodies the spirit of this historic number as he returns to his boyhood club.”
READ MORE: Arsenal confirm £67.5m signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace
The shirt number, previously worn by Arsenal greats including Dennis Bergkamp and Mesut Ozil, has been vacant since Emile Smith Rowe’s move to Fulham earlier this summer. For many supporters, Eze’s assignment is viewed as both symbolic and fitting, given his reputation as one of the Premier League’s most gifted playmakers.
Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze was officially presented to the Arsenal fans on Saturday (Image credit: Getty Images)
A product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy before making his name at Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace, Eze racked up 40 goals and 36 assists in 169 appearances for the Eagles. His ability to unlock defences made him a standout target for Mikel Arteta, who turned to the England international after Kai Havertz’s injury.
The confirmation of Eze’s number caps off a dramatic transfer saga in which Arsenal beat North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to his signature. The Gunners matched Palace’s £67.5 million valuation, £60 million upfront plus £7.5 million in add-ons after Spurs had initially agreed terms with the player.
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The announcement comes amid heightened emotions in North London, after a mural celebrating Eze’s arrival near the Emirates was vandalised overnight, allegedly by Tottenham fans. Arsenal’s decision to proceed with his unveiling before today’s match has been widely seen as a defiant statement.
Eze becomes Arsenal’s seventh major signing of a statement summer, joining Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, and Viktor Gyokeres. The club’s transfer business, overseen by sporting director Andrea Berta, underscores their determination to compete for both Premier League and Champions League glory this season.
Although Eze is ineligible to face Leeds due to registration deadlines, he has officially been presented to supporters before kickoff at the Emirates. He is expected to make his competitive debut against Liverpool on August 31, offering fans a tantalising glimpse of their new No. 10 in action.
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