Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze has finally made his desired move to Arsenal. The 27-year-old has been subject to transfer speculation throughout the window before the Gunners finally landed their man in what is said to be a big-money move, as Arsenal would be paying £60 million guaranteed and £7.5 million in add-ons to Crystal Palace.
The highly sought-after forward will be leaving Palace on a high, having just lifted the Community Shield trophy by beating Liverpool and also winning the FA Cup by beating Pep Guardiola’s Man City on penalties in the final. With Eze joining Arsenal, he becomes the seventh summer signing for the Gunners, following in the footsteps of the likes of Christian Noorgard, Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Mosquera, and Viktor Gyokeres. While Eze was at the Palace, he was recognised for many qualities, not just his skill with the ball.
Ball Progression
Eberechi Eze is skilled at advancing the ball from deep positions into the opponent's half. He is the type of player who prefers short ball carries as a means of movement rather than holding onto the ball for extended periods. This was evident last season, as he averaged 1.86 carries per 90 minutes and registered a total of 68 carries, ranking him second among midfielders.
Creativity
Eze thrives in tight spaces, unlocking defences with his footwork and quick passing. His flair for dribbling was on display last season as he was ranked among the top 4% of midfielders with successful dribbles, averaging 2.03 per 90 minutes. This would be positive news for Arsenal as they seek to enhance their squad by adding more creative players.
🚨👋🏻 Oliver Glasner: “I wish Eberechi Eze all the best. He won’t play for us anymore”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 21, 2025
All set for formal steps of his Arsenal move, due to be completed in 24h. ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/OK6YjPDTrc
Versatility
Eze’s versatility was evident last season for Palace, as he sometimes played as a left-sided No. 8, an attacking midfielder, or a left winger. Mikel Arteta can utilise him in multiple midfield and wing positions based on the opposition and match situation. Mikel Arteta can utilise him in multiple midfield and wing positions based on the opposition and match situation.
Goals
Though not renowned for goal scoring, Eze would look to add extra goals for the Gunners. His 11 goals in 2023/2024 will remain his best season in front of goal, as he will be looking to reduce the burden on Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, who scored 12 goals and 15 goals respectively in all competitions last season for the Gunners.
Composure
Eze is a player who rarely panics under pressure, maintains good ball control, and likes to draw fouls from opposing players to relieve pressure. Eze is a player who rarely panics under pressure, maintains good ball control, and likes to draw fouls from opposing players to relieve pressure. Though he isn’t a high pressing machine like Martinelli, his intelligent work off the ball will be very key for Arteta this season, as the Gunner's head coach would demand more intensity from him than he was used to at Palace.
And so, Eberechi Eze’s journey from South London to North London is complete. Once the heartbeat of Palace’s creativity, he moves on to a bigger stage, carrying a weight of expectation from a club chasing silverware. Eze is more than a transfer to Arsenal; he is a statement of intent and perhaps the missing piece in their title pursuit, and for Eze, it is the next chapter of a boyhood dream written in red and white.
