It’s Taken 14 Years And £67.5m, But Eberechi Eze Is Going Back To Arsenal | Ed Aarons

They opportunity bully things travel to those who wait. But for Eberechi Eze, it has taken 14 years for his dream to travel true. The England guardant made a melodramatic entranceway during Crystal Palace’s unfastened training convention connected Wednesday earlier their Conference League playoff erstwhile he was past to look from nan changing room pinch frenzied anticipation that his expected move to Tottenham was adjacent to being agreed.

Even if he had been alert of Arsenal’s volition to measurement up their longstanding liking successful him, Eze was surely giving thing distant erstwhile he signed autographs and said to supporters connected his measurement retired of Palace’s training crushed successful Beckenham.

It was later connected Wednesday day that nan Palace chair, Steve Parish, received a telephone from Arsenal’s executive vice-chair, Tim Lewis, indicating they were finally fresh to act. The afloat severity of nan knee wounded suffered by Kai Havertz during his substitute quality against Manchester United connected Sunday is unknown, though nan German guardant is expected to beryllium sidelined for nan contiguous future. With Arsenal facing 4 of past season’s apical 7 successful successive Premier League matches aft they entertain Leeds connected Saturday, Mikel Arteta felt he was short of numbers successful attack.

It is understood Parish had reluctantly agreed a interest pinch Spurs that efficaciously matched Eze’s expired merchandise clause of £67.5m, albeit pinch them paying little than nan £60m they had asked for up beforehand and pinch much bonuses included. Arsenal were good alert Palace wanted contiguous costs for a replacement and were fresh pinch an connection that satisfied some sides.

Eberechi Eze scores his first extremity for Crystal Palace, against Leeds astatine Selhurst Park, successful 2020. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/PA

Their trump card, however, was Eze. He has made nary concealed of his continued affiliations to nan nine that released him from their academy astatine nan property of 13, moreover if nan scars of rejection took a agelong clip to heal. “It’s 1 of nan hardest battles I’ve had,” he told nan BBC earlier nan FA Cup last successful May. “Because of what Arsenal meant to maine astatine nan time, I had tears rolling down my face.”

He was besides rejected by Fulham, Reading and Millwall earlier yet convincing Queens Park Rangers to springiness him a chance successful 2016 arsenic he was preparing to enrol successful a section assemblage and commencement moving part-time astatine Tesco.

Their religion was rewarded by Eze’s breakthrough into nan first squad nether nan watchful oculus of Chris Ramsey and Les Ferdinand, nan erstwhile Tottenham striker who was QPR’s head of shot erstwhile Palace paid £19.5m to motion him successful August 2020 and inserted a 15% sell-on clause connected immoderate profit. That will guarantee QPR person astir £6m from nan move to Arsenal.

“Sometimes, arsenic a player, you tin think, ‘has my chance gone?’ But he’s shown awesome spot of characteristic and his expertise has shone through,” said Ferdinand erstwhile Eze was called up by England for Euro 2024. “A batch of nan champion players person been rejected location and it conscionable pushes you connected to execute more.”

It took Eze 3 months to people his first extremity for Palace – a superb free-kick against Leeds astatine an quiet Selhurst Park – because of Covid restrictions – successful November 2020 – earlier missing astir of nan adjacent play pinch an achilles wounded that besides scuppered his hopes of a first England call-up. But he has flourished since returning, scoring 29 times successful nan Premier League complete nan past 3 seasons and underlining his position arsenic a Palace fable pinch nan winning extremity against Manchester City astatine Wembley arsenic nan nine lifted their first awesome trophy.

Eberechi Eze made his master breakthrough pinch QPR, who will person astir £6m from his move to Arsenal. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

It seems fitting Eze chose a replica of nan garment Ian Wright and co wore successful nan 1990 FA Cup last for nan parade a fewer days later, which had been donated by a fan. Wright, who joined Arsenal from Palace successful September 1991 for £2.5m, was 27 astatine nan clip and proved he was much than tin of making nan measurement up. Eze, calved and raised successful Greenwich – conscionable up nan roadworthy from Arsenal’s original location successful Woolwich – will travel Kenny Sansom, Paul Davis and David Rocastle arsenic southbound Londoners who crossed nan river.

Eze will ever person a typical spot successful nan hearts of Palace fans who will not begrudge him this deserved opportunity. As those who person followed nan nine for generations will attest aft waving goodbye to Wright, Andy Johnson and Michael Olise complete nan years, it is champion not to get excessively attached to your heroes.