They say good things come to those who wait, and for Eberechi Eze, that wait lasted 14 years before his dream came true. The England forward made a dramatic entrance during Crystal Palace’s open training session on Wednesday ahead of their Conference League playoff. He was the last to emerge from the changing room, with excitement building over reports that his expected move to Tottenham was nearly finalized.
Even if he knew about Arsenal’s renewed interest in him, Eze gave nothing away as he signed autographs and chatted with fans on his way out of Palace’s Beckenham training ground.
Later that afternoon, Palace chairman Steve Parish received a call from Arsenal’s executive vice-chair Tim Lewis, signaling that the club was finally ready to make a move. This came after Kai Havertz suffered a knee injury as a substitute against Manchester United on Sunday. While the full extent of the injury is unclear, Havertz is expected to be out for some time. With Arsenal set to face four of last season’s top seven teams in a row after playing Leeds on Saturday, manager Mikel Arteta felt he needed more attacking options.
Parish had reluctantly agreed to a deal with Tottenham that effectively matched Eze’s expired release clause of £67.5 million, though Spurs would pay less upfront and include more performance-related bonuses. Arsenal knew Palace wanted immediate funds for a replacement and made an offer that worked for both clubs.
Arsenal’s key advantage, however, was Eze himself. He has always been open about his attachment to the club that released him from their academy at age 13, even though the rejection was painful. “It’s one of the hardest battles I’ve had,” he told the BBC before the FA Cup final in May. “Because of what Arsenal meant to me at the time, I had tears rolling down my face.”
After also being turned away by Fulham, Reading, and Millwall, Eze finally got his chance with Queens Park Rangers in 2016, just as he was about to start college and a part-time job at Tesco. QPR’s faith paid off when he broke into the first team under Chris Ramsey and Les Ferdinand, the former Tottenham striker who was QPR’s director of football when Palace signed Eze for £19.5 million in August 2020. The deal included a 15% sell-on clause for any profit, meaning QPR will receive around £6 million from his move to Arsenal.
“Sometimes as a player you wonder, ‘Has my chance gone?’ But he’s shown great strength of character, and his ability has shone through,” Ferdinand said when Eze was called up to England’s Euro 2024 squad. “Many of the best players have been rejected somewhere, and it just pushes you to achieve more.”
It took Eze three months to score his first goal for Palace—a stunning free-kick against Leeds in an empty Selhurst Park due to COVID restrictions in November 2020. He then missed most of the following season with an Achilles injury that also dashed his hopes of an England call-up. But since returning, he has truly flourished.Over the past three seasons, Eberechi Eze scored 29 Premier League goals and cemented his status as a Crystal Palace legend by netting the winning goal against Manchester City at Wembley, helping the club lift its first major trophy.
Eze began his professional career at QPR, who will receive approximately £6 million from his transfer to Arsenal. A few days after the final, he fittingly wore a replica of the shirt Ian Wright and his teammates wore in the 1990 FA Cup final—a jersey donated by a fan. Wright, who moved from Palace to Arsenal in September 1991 for £2.5 million, was 27 at the time and quickly proved he could thrive at the highest level. Eze, born and raised in Greenwich—just a short distance from Arsenal’s original home in Woolwich—will follow in the footsteps of other south Londoners like Kenny Sansom, Paul Davis, and David Rocastle who made the move across the river.
Palace fans will always hold a special place for Eze and won’t resent him this well-deserved opportunity. As long-time supporters know from saying goodbye to icons like Wright, Andy Johnson, and Michael Olise over the years, it’s wise not to grow too attached to your heroes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the potential return of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal framed in a natural and conversational tone
General Factual Questions
Q Is it true that Eberechi Eze is returning to Arsenal
A As of now this is a strong rumor reported by major news outlets but it is not yet an official confirmed transfer by either club
Q What does after 14 years and 675m refer to
A It refers to Eze being an Arsenal academy player 14 years ago before being released The 675m is the reported transfer fee that Arsenal would need to pay to Crystal Palace to sign him now
Q Why did Arsenal let him go as a kid
A He was released at age 13 a common occurrence in academy football where clubs make difficult decisions on very young players based on their development at that specific time
Q Which position does Eze play
A He is primarily an attacking midfielder or a number 10 but he can also play effectively on either wing
Tactical Team Impact Questions
Q How would Eze fit into Arsenals current team
A He would provide elite creativity dribbling and goal threat from midfield offering strong competition for and rotation with Martin degaard He adds muchneeded depth and a different tactical option
Q What are his main strengths as a player
A His key strengths are incredible close control and dribbling the ability to beat defenders oneonone vision for a final pass and scoring spectacular goals
Q Is the 675m price tag worth it
A This is debated Supporters argue his Premier League experience homegrown status and proven quality justify the fee Others worry its a large sum for a player who wouldnt automatically be a guaranteed starter
Q Is he better than Arsenals current options
A He isnt necessarily better than degaard in the same role but he offers a different and highly skilled profile making the overall squad much stronger
Practical Fan Perspective Questions
Q When could this transfer officially happen
A The transfer window officially opens in June A deal could be announced any time from then until the window closes at
