Arsenal have dramatically hijacked Tottenham's pursuit of Eberechi Eze, completing a £68 million deal to bring the Crystal Palace forward to the Emirates Stadium. The 27-year-old England international becomes Arsenal's seventh summer signing after the Gunners made a late intervention on Wednesday.
Tottenham had spent ten days negotiating and agreed terms with both Palace and Eze for the same fee structure. But Arsenal's last-minute move proved decisive, with the boyhood Gunners fan choosing to return to his former club after starting his youth career there before being released at age 13.
The transfer represents a significant coup for Arsenal in the North London rivalry. Eze's emotional connection to the club proved crucial in swaying his decision, despite Tottenham's lengthy pursuit and agreed terms.
Deal details and catalyst
The total package is worth £60 million plus £8 million in add-ons, with Eze's release clause having lapsed the previous week. According to the Daily Mail, Kai Havertz's knee injury was the catalyst that accelerated Arsenal's move for the versatile forward.
Sporting director Andrea Berta described Eze as a "creative and explosive talent with huge technical quality". The signing addresses Arsenal's need for attacking depth and creativity in the final third.
Manager Mikel Arteta said: "He is a powerful and exciting player who will give us a new dimension in our attacking game. What stands out just as much as his talent and intelligence as a player, is the way he has worked hard throughout his career to get where he is today."
Medical completed
Eze completed his medical on Friday and will not feature against Leeds United on Saturday. The timing of the transfer means he will need time to integrate into Arteta's tactical system before making his debut.
Arteta added: "His journey, his mentality, and his ambition are exactly what we want in our team, and we love how much it means to him and his family to be joining our club."
Sources used: "Daily Mail", "BBC", "Metro", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
