Eberechi Eze has completed a £60 million move from Crystal Palace to Arsenal
Arsenal have signed Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze in a transfer twist that flummoxed Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham believed they had agreed terms, only to find that Arsenal had already struck quietly to complete the transfer.
Arsenal’s Silent Deal with Crystal Palace
There were claims that Arsenal had finalized the terms of a transfer agreement with Crystal Palace as early as Sunday, 10 August. Arsenal kept the move quiet, giving the impression that they were more concerned with offloading players before acquiring big players.
Despite repeatedly stating that they were not interested in Eze, the club persisted in monitoring Palace in secret. This underhanded tactic gave them a running start over Tottenham, who didn’t make their top bid until hours before Arsenal completed the move.
Tottenham’s Negotiation Struggles
Daniel Levy’s negotiations with Crystal Palace stalled over add-ons and payment terms
Tottenham’s talks with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish were marked by persistent difficulties. Add-on issues and payment terms caused ongoing talks to repeatedly break down. Although some had agreed on several matters, others quickly trailed behind, hindering progress.
At some stage, the deal was described as “both nearly finished and always on the verge of collapse.” Palace’s hesitation has then been interpreted as tactics, with rumors that they were waiting for Arsenal to return with a better offer.
Eze’s Preference and Spurs’ Frustration
Eberechi Eze was prepared to join Tottenham on a switch after being uncertain regarding Arsenal’s plans. He even negotiated with Parish to hasten the deal. However, Arsenal was still his preference due to long-standing connections with the club.
The midfielder trained in Arsenal’s youth academy until the age of 13 and has, in general, had a soft spot for the Gunners. His preferred switch became real when Arsenal revived their interest, especially after Kai Havertz’s injury accelerated the club’s plans.
Transfer Terms and Structure
Arsenal later came to a deal to pay £60 million plus £7.5 million in add-ons for Eze. The deal came close to the player’s release clause, which was set to expire at the end of the transfer window. Arsenal’s offer was higher than Tottenham’s.
Initial talks had indicated that the deal would be structured around £50 million plus £10 million in add-ons. Arsenal, however, upped their bid to seal the deal and get Palace to agree to their offer ahead of Spurs.
Steve Parish’s Role in the Negotiations
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish had negotiated the best possible deal for his team. Having lost Eze was a serious blow, but the eventual fee is good value, especially with Tottenham coming in late.
Queens Park Rangers will also benefit from the transfer. The Championship team is also due 15% of the transaction, which will provide them with new money to spend on their player development for seasons to come.
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What’s Next for Eze and Palace
Eze could still feature for Crystal Palace in the Europa Conference League before his Arsenal debut
It is unclear whether Eberechi Eze will feature in Crystal Palace’s Europa Conference League play-off match against Fredrikstad. The match may prove to be an emotional farewell after helping Palace lift the FA Cup last season.
Failure to secure the signing of Tottenham will add a lot of frustration to the scouting. The club had also missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White in the previous season. They will once more be asked about their transfer policy under Daniel Levy
Arsenal have made one of the most high-profile signings of the window. The arrival of Eze will add to the quality that they already have in their team and get ready for another grueling season in Europe and at home.
