Arsenal needs to secure the acquisition of Eberechi Eze today, as per a report, for a previously agreed fee of £68 million.
Arsenal's Pursuit of Eberechi Eze: Complex Negotiations Ahead
Arsenal's interest in Eberechi Eze, the left-sided attacker and England international, has been a topic of discussion in recent times. However, the expiry of Eze's £68 million release clause at Crystal Palace on August 1, 2025, has added a layer of complexity to any potential transfer.
Eze, who began his academy football career at Arsenal's Hale End campus but was released at age 13, has since played for Fulham, Reading, Millwall, and Queens' Park Rangers before joining Crystal Palace. His impressive performances for the Eagles in the Premier League have caught the eye of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager.
Arsenal have been active in the transfer market, having already signed Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke from Chelsea, Christian Norgaard from Brentford, and Valencia's Cristhian Mosquera. However, they have not shown any inclination of triggering Eze's release fee as of now.
The expiry of Eze's release clause has significant implications for potential suitors like Arsenal. With the buy-out clause deadline passed, Crystal Palace is no longer contractually obliged to accept a fixed £68 million offer. This means any transfer negotiations now lack that simplified trigger. Arsenal’s approach reportedly involved waiting to sell some players before making a formal bid, but with the clause expired and Arsenal unwilling to meet the full clause, their chances of signing Eze under those pre-agreed terms disappeared.
Despite this, Arsenal still remain interested in Eze and reportedly continue to monitor his situation. Any deal now would likely involve more complex negotiations and potentially a higher or different fee than the release clause amount. Eze himself is understood to be content at Crystal Palace but open to moving should a suitable offer arise.
The new season for Eze's potential transfer begins in two weeks, with interested clubs required to formally submit a bid a fortnight beforehand. It remains to be seen how this development will unfold, but one thing is certain: Arsenal's pursuit of Eze is far from over.
In a separate development, Arsenal have recently signed Swedish international forward Viktor Gyokeres in a big-money move. This signing might indicate that Arsenal are prioritising other positions in their squad before making a formal move for Eze.
[1] The Athletic [2] Sky Sports [3] ESPN [4] The Sun
- Arsenal's pursuit of Eze could now involve more complex negotiations, as the expiry of his £68 million release clause means any transfer may no longer be straightforward, especially considering their unwillingness to meet the full clause.
- Despite the recent signing of Swedish international forward Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal's interest in Eberechi Eze remains, and they continue to monitor his situation at Crystal Palace, potentially aiming to secure him for a new transfer fee.
