Arsenal are reportedly on the verge of snatching Eberechi Eze from the grasp of their fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur in what is shaping up to be one of the most striking transfer stories of the Premier League summer window.
Spurs had been confident of sealing a deal for the 27-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder, but developments now suggest the Gunners are ready to disrupt those plans.
The Athletic revealed that Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Palace to secure Eze’s signature. The deal is expected to cost around £68 million ($91 million), the same figure Spurs were prepared to meet under the terms of his recently expired release clause. Arsenal’s sudden push for the England international is believed to have been prompted by growing concerns over Kai Havertz, who has suffered a knee setback.
Havertz, who came off the bench during Sunday’s win over Manchester United, completed the match but was missing from Arsenal’s open training session at the Emirates on Wednesday. This injury has increased the urgency for the north London club, who are determined to reinforce their attacking options as they prepare another title challenge after finishing runners-up to Liverpool last season.
By contrast, Tottenham, despite winning the Europa League final, endured a dismal league campaign, finishing in 17th place, narrowly avoiding relegation. Losing Eze to Arsenal would represent a major blow for the Spurs hierarchy, who had earmarked him as a marquee signing.
Meanwhile, Eze remains focused on his current commitments. He played 84 minutes in Crystal Palace’s weekend draw against Chelsea and trained on Wednesday ahead of their Conference League play-off tie against Norwegian side Fredrikstad. Palace manager Oliver Glasner, addressing speculation during his press conference, insisted both Eze and captain Marc Guehi, who has attracted interest from Liverpool, would start the European fixture.
“Before Chelsea, I think many of you were surprised that Marc and Ebs started and played almost the whole game,” Glasner remarked. “Most of you will be surprised that they will start again tomorrow because of all the rumours. But again, they are committed.”
Glasner, who recently led Palace to Community Shield victory over Liverpool, praised their professionalism, noting, “They are committed to the team, they have a contract here, they played a crucial part that we could be so successful, and they will play a crucial part as long as they are here. Because they are good, they are committed to the team, and when one of the players leave, which I don’t know at the moment, then they want to leave as players who always gave 100 percent for Crystal Palace. This is what they did since they signed, and this is what we expect from them until the end of their contract, whenever this is.”
While Guehi’s contract runs until 2026, Eze is tied to Palace until 2027, giving the Eagles significant leverage. Glasner acknowledged the ongoing speculation, adding: “This noise, these rumours, it’s not just for three days, it’s been written for weeks.”
What you should know
Arsenal’s pursuit of Eberechi Eze has taken a dramatic turn in the transfer market, with the Gunners moving ahead of Tottenham to secure his services.
The move is fueled by concerns over Kai Havertz’s injury, positioning Eze as a key reinforcement for their title ambitions.
While Palace remain firm on their players’ commitment, the outcome could shape not only Arsenal’s season but also the rivalry with Spurs, who risk missing out on a major target.
