Eberechi Eze
Image credit: Getty Images
Eberechi Eze has completed a remarkable homecoming to Arsenal, sealing a £67.5 million transfer from Crystal Palace and fulfilling a dream that has driven him since childhood.
The 27-year-old England international, unveiled to supporters at the Emirates Stadium ahead of Arsenal’s 5-0 victory over Leeds United on Saturday, described the move as the culmination of years of determination.
In a heartfelt interview with club legend Ian Wright, Eze revealed how every visit to the Emirates as a Palace player reignited his ambition to return to the club he once supported from the stands.
“I’ve been on trial for four years, if I’m being honest,” Ezesaid. “Every time I came to Arsenal, I looked at the seat I used to sit in with my brothers and thought: ‘This is it, this is an opportunity.’”
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Eze’s journey to north London has been one of resilience and redemption. Released from Arsenal’s academy at 13, he endured rejections from Fulham, Reading, and Millwall before breaking through at Queens Park Rangers in 2016.
His rise accelerated with a £19.5m move to Palace in 2020, where he scored 40 goals in 169 appearances, including the winner in May’s historic FA Cup final against Manchester City. His form earned him 11 England caps and a place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad.
The transfer itself was dramatic. Tottenham Hotspur were close to finalising a deal with Palace before Arsenal stepped in late, with manager Mikel Arteta making a decisive call to the player. Sources close to negotiations said Arsenal’s interest left Eze with “only one destination.”
Honestly, this is too emotional from Eberechi Eze and might be the most honest interview a player gives at a new club.
Brilliant stuff Ebs and big ups to Arsenal for making it happen.pic.twitter.com/1v7uqhh7au
— Nsidibe Akpan (@nsidibeakpan23) August 25, 2025
Arteta hailed his new signing as a transformative addition. “He is a powerful and exciting player who will give us a new dimension in our attacking game. His journey, his mentality, and his ambition are exactly what we want in our team,” the Spaniard said. Sporting director Andrea Berta described Eze as “a creative and explosive talent with huge technical quality” and a proven big-game player.
Eze arrives as Arsenal’s seventh summer signing in a window worth more than £260m, as the Gunners chase their first major trophy in five years. Handed the iconic No. 10 shirt, he is expected to play a pivotal role on the left flank, where his flair and ability to unlock stubborn defences could be decisive.
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Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has already tipped Eze as a “game-changer,” predicting: “I think Arsenal win the league with Eze.”
Reflecting on his ambition, Eze said: “I’ve tasted success with Palace, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield. That’s my aim, to keep winning trophies with Arsenal.”
Palace chairman Steve Parish paid tribute to Eze’s impact, calling him “a huge inspiration and role model.” Queens Park Rangers also benefit from the deal, banking around £6m from a sell-on clause inserted in 2020.
For Eze, the move is not only a transfer but the fulfilment of a childhood dream. “I had the heart that if it’s meant to be, it will happen,” he said. “Now, there’s a bit more energy inside the tank.”
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