Eberechi Eze has revealed that he was on the verge of joining Arsenal before a surprising twist changed everything. According to the Crystal Palace midfielder, comments made by Mikel Arteta to the Palace board ultimately derailed the move. Eze admitted he had held long-standing respect for Arteta, but that respect has now been lost after hearing what was allegedly said. This unexpected turn of events has pushed him closer to joining Arsenal’s fierce rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.
Crystal Palace are now preparing for a formal approach from Tottenham for their prized playmaker. The 27-year-old England international has long been admired by Arsenal, but Spurs are set to make the first concrete offer within days. This looming bid signals the start of what could be a tense transfer battle between north London’s biggest rivals, with both sides aiming to strengthen ahead of a demanding season.
Eze’s contract contains a release clause of around £68 million, though there are rumours it may have already expired earlier in August. If that’s the case, Crystal Palace would be free to set their own price for the midfielder. With two years still remaining on his current deal, Palace remain in a strong position, but they are aware that offers could flood in before the transfer window slams shut.
The uncertainty surrounding Eze’s availability is already creating a delicate stand-off between Arsenal and Tottenham. Neither club wants to risk tabling a bid only to be turned down in favour of their biggest rival. With both teams preparing for Champions League campaigns, the competition for Eze’s signature could quickly escalate.
For Arsenal, signing Eze may require a major financial reshuffle. The Gunners have already spent heavily this summer, bringing in Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Cristhian Mosquera at a combined cost of nearly £200 million. As a result, they may need to offload players like Reiss Nelson, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, and Albert Sambi Lokonga to balance the books before making a move.
Tottenham, in contrast, have spent approximately £126 million so far, securing Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, Kevin Danso, Luka Vuskovic, Kota Takai, and Joao Palhinha on loan. They are also eyeing an ambitious swoop for Savinho, though Manchester City are likely to demand more than £50 million to part with the talented Brazilian winger.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace enjoyed a morale boost by beating Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield on Sunday. Despite that victory, transfer speculation around Eze and defender Marc Guehi continues to swirl, with both attracting strong interest from top clubs — including Tottenham.
Palace chairman Steve Parish addressed the rumours, acknowledging that while he would prefer to keep his key players, football is unpredictable. “Players come and go in football clubs,” he said. “It’s a life cycle, isn’t it? Hopefully, they’ll still be here — that’s what I’d like. But we’ll see.” His words leave the door open for a potential exit, adding yet another twist to Eze’s transfer saga.
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