London, August 21, 2025 – In a dramatic transfer coup, Arsenal have sensationally hijacked Tottenham Hotspur’s move to sign Crystal Palace’s talismanic attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze for a deal worth up to £67.5 million. The 27-year-old England international, who played a pivotal role in Palace’s FA Cup triumph last season, is set to join the Gunners, leaving their North London rivals reeling.Tottenham had been in pole position to secure Eze’s signature, with chairman Daniel Levy reportedly finalizing a verbal agreement with Palace on Wednesday morning after weeks of negotiations. Spurs’ offer, valued at around £55 million plus £5 million in add-ons, came after their pursuit intensified following James Maddison’s ACL injury. However, Arsenal, spurred by concerns over Kai Havertz’s knee injury sustained during their win against Manchester United, moved swiftly to outmaneuver their rivals. The Gunners matched Palace’s expired £68 million release clause with a package of £60 million plus £7.5 million in add-ons, a deal deemed superior to Spurs’ proposal.Sources reveal Arsenal had laid the groundwork for this transfer as early as August 10, maintaining discreet contact with Palace chairman Steve Parish and Eze’s representatives. The Gunners’ sporting director Andrea Berta and vice-chairman Tim Lewis leveraged a stronger relationship with Parish to seal the deal, while Eze’s emotional ties to Arsenal—where he was a boyhood fan and academy player until age 13—proved decisive. Despite his initial excitement for a Spurs move, Eze’s preference for Arsenal became clear once the Gunners re-entered the race, with the player reportedly “thrilled” to join Mikel Arteta’s project.Eze, who has 12 England caps and scored 14 goals with 11 assists in 43 appearances for Palace last season, is expected to play his final match for the Eagles in their UEFA Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad on Thursday before undergoing a medical with Arsenal on Friday. The transfer marks Arsenal’s seventh signing of a busy summer, adding to their £200 million-plus spending on players like Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke. Eze’s versatility as a No. 10 or left-sided attacker will bolster Arteta’s squad, especially with Havertz potentially sidelined for up to three months.For Tottenham, the loss is a bitter blow, compounded by their failure to sign Morgan Gibbs-White earlier in the window. Fans have expressed frustration with Levy’s cautious approach, with some calling for change in the club’s leadership. Meanwhile, Queens Park Rangers, Eze’s former club, will pocket 15% of the profit from the deal, providing a financial boost for the Championship side.This transfer not only strengthens Arsenal’s title ambitions but also delivers a psychological victory in the North London rivalry, with Eze poised to become a key piece in their quest to end a trophy drought stretching back to 2020.
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