EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal close in on Eberechi Eze deal – here’s what holding it up

Steve Kay

• Updated: 31 Jul 2025 15:24 BST
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Arsenal are still well placed to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, with FootballTransfers able to confirm the state of play regarding the winger’s transfer.

Mikel Arteta has set his sights on a new winger for the Gunners this summer who can challenge Gabriel Martinelli to start on the left and act as a backup to Bukayo Saka on the right.

Although there have been rumours that the Emirates side might look at Real Madrid star Rodrygo, FootballTransfers previously reported that sporting director Andrea Berta is going all-in on Eze.

Current ETV

Eberechi Eze

AM (C), M (CL)

C. Palace

Eberechi Eze

AM (C), M (CL)

C. Palace

€54.9M

ETV Range

€49.4M - €60.3M

View full profile

The main stumbling block in the negotiations as things stand are not being caused by the Gunners but instead Palace finding a replacement that they deem to be suitable.

An agreement has been reached over the first down payment that Arsenal will pay for Eze, which is expected to total €34m (£30m). The North London side are expected to pay a total of €78m (£68m) for the England international winger, matching the release clause in his Crystal Palace deal.

The Eagles, meanwhile, are not expected to make things difficult in this deal but do want to find a high-quality alternative before agreeing to the move. Although Arsenal appear to be willing to match Eze’s release clause, Palace have not been placed under an obligation to sell because their London rivals want to structure the deal in a different way.

Arsenal summer signings

Money there for the deal

FootballTransfers has been told by sources that Arteta has seen the left-sided position since the beginning of the window, close to the importance he attributed to finding a striker. With Viktor Gyokeres now safely at the Emirates club, the Spanish boss is prioritising this deal.

Given that Arsenal have been seeking a left winger for weeks, a transfer is already budgeted for. This means that claims the Gunners need to sell before they can buy are off the mark.

Arteta is hoping that Eze can add a goal threat from the left of his Arsenal side. He delivered 25 goal contributions in 43 appearances for Crystal Palace last term, and a repeat of this at the Emirates would doubtless push the Gunners closer to the Premier League title they have been chasing in recent years.

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