Arsenal have pulled off a major transfer coup by hijacking Tottenham Hotspur’s move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, agreeing a deal worth £67.5 million to bring the England international to the Emirates.
The 27-year-old forward had been strongly linked with a switch to Spurs earlier this week after the club reached an agreement of around £60m with Palace. However, in a dramatic twist, Arsenal reignited their long-standing interest and swooped in to secure the winger’s signature following Kai Havertz’s knee injury in the Gunners’ Premier League opener against Manchester United.
Arsenal’s Late Intervention
Arsenal had initially cooled their pursuit of Eze earlier in the summer after signing Noni Madueke from Chelsea, shifting their attention to other targets and squad priorities. Tottenham quickly moved into pole position and were confident of completing the signing, even holding advanced talks with Palace and the player.
But with Havertz sidelined, Mikel Arteta’s side acted decisively. Arsenal are set to pay £60m upfront plus £7.5m in add-ons, matching the valuation that Palace were holding out for. Reports suggest personal terms are already close to being finalized, paving the way for the move to be completed.
Eze’s links with Arsenal stretch back to his early days, having once been part of the Gunners’ youth setup and openly spoken about supporting the club as a youngster. Although Arsenal did explore a deal in June, they initially prioritized other areas of the squad.
That hesitation allowed Spurs to step in, especially after injuries to James Maddison and their failure to land Morgan Gibbs-White. For much of the week, Tottenham were confident of finalizing the transfer, only for Arsenal’s last-minute bid to turn the situation on its head.
The Bigger Picture
Eze’s arrival would make him Arsenal’s latest marquee signing and a direct reinforcement for Arteta’s attack at a crucial time. For Spurs, however, the deal represents a painful blow, as their north London rivals have once again beaten them to a key target in dramatic fashion.
If completed, this deal would not only bolster Arsenal’s forward options but also add another layer of rivalry to the already fierce north London battle, with Tottenham left frustrated after seeing their plans for Eze collapse at the final hurdle.
