Arsenal agree deal to sign $81 million Eberechi Eze after sensational Spurs hijack

Tom Weber

Updated: 21 Aug 2025 04:25 CDT
3 min read

Arsenal have agreed a deal for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze from right under the noses of arch-rivals, Tottenham.

The Gunners have managed to secure the signing of Eze after all. Arsenal initially opened talks with the 27-year-old in July, with the player personally meeting with Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta.

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Eze, a boyhood Gunners fan, was persuaded to make the move, but Arsenal eventually backed away from the deal after managing to tie Ethan Nwaneri down to a new contract and following the pre-season emergence of Max Dowman.

The North London club did not want to block their youngsters' paths to the first team, and they were also hesitant to trigger Eze's $91.5 million release clause. This clause expired before the start of the Premier League season, but instead of Arsenal, it was Tottenham who then tried to strike a deal.

Spurs managed to find common ground with Crystal Palace on a $81m fee on Wednesday, and they had also agreed terms with Eze. However, they were blown out of the water when Arsenal returned to the table after Kai Havertz suffered a knee injury.

Arsenal hijack Eze deal

Arsenal opened formal talks with Palace on Wednesday evening, and things developed quickly, with Spurs soon realising that they would not be able to compete with their local rivals in a two-horse race.

Indeed, Eze quickly greenlit the move, and Arsenal have now also managed to agree a fee with Palace in the region of €69m, according to Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein.

There are suggestions that Arsenal have offered Palace better payment terms, which was crucial to striking a quick accord. Eze is now finalizing his personal terms with the Gunners.

He is expected to be a new Arsenal player by the end of the week, although he will feature for Palace against Fredrikstad in the Conference League on Thursday, which is a slight risk. It will offer him the chance to say a proper goodbye to Selhurst Park before his medical.

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