Arsenal agree fee with Palace after dramatic twist
Arsenal have reached an agreement worth £67.5m to sign Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze, hijacking a deal Tottenham Hotspur believed they had secured just a day earlier. The Gunners will pay £60m up front plus £7.5m in add-ons, with personal terms nearly finalised. Eze’s medical in north London could take place as early as Friday.
Spurs caught off guard as rivals swoop in
Tottenham were confident of landing the 27-year-old after striking what they felt was an agreement with both Palace and the player on Wednesday. However, Arsenal reignited their interest following an injury to Kai Havertz and moved quickly to secure the deal, leaving their north London rivals frustrated.
Eze still set to feature for Palace before farewell
Despite the agreement, Eze is still expected to be in the squad for Crystal Palace’s Conference League clash on Thursday night. The forward wants the opportunity to say goodbye to the fans before sealing his Premier League move. His release clause of £60m plus £8m in add-ons expired before the season began, allowing Arsenal to negotiate fresh terms.
What this means for Arsenal’s transfer window
Eze was on Arsenal’s shortlist early in the summer, with much groundwork laid in June. While their focus had since shifted to other positions and outgoings, the late setback of Havertz’s injury prompted them to revisit the deal. The signing not only strengthens Arsenal’s attacking depth but also represents a symbolic win over Tottenham in the transfer market.
