This summer transfer window just got a lot more dramatic in North London. Arsenal have reportedly stolen a march on Tottenham Hotspur by reaching an agreement in principle with Crystal Palace to sign Eberechi Eze, the player Spurs had been chasing for over a week.
How Arsenal Entered the Race
Tottenham had been negotiating with Palace for Eze for the past 10 days, aiming to strike a deal worth around £55 million plus add-ons.
But Arsenal’s need for attacking reinforcements suddenly became urgent after Kai Havertz suffered a fresh injury.
The Gunners quickly moved to table a £60 million offer, hijacking Spurs’ long-standing pursuit.
Eze’s Arsenal Connection
Arsenal had initially earmarked Eze, a 27-year-old England international, earlier in the window.
They knew he was a fan of the club from childhood and had even met with Sporting Director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta back in July.
At that time, Eze was keen on moving to the Gunners, but Arsenal were focused on offloading players after splashing £63 million on striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Havertz Injury Sparks Urgency
Havertz, who returned from a hamstring injury last season and appeared as a substitute in Arsenal’s win at Old Trafford, missed open training at the Emirates on Wednesday.
The club fears he may be sidelined for an extended period, pushing Arteta to revisit the Eze option rather than seeking a temporary loan or cheaper alternatives.
Tottenham’s Stalled Negotiations
Tottenham stepped in when James Maddison was ruled out for most of the season.
Negotiations with Palace progressed but stalled as the club scrambled to find a replacement.
They explored signing Christos Tzolis from Bruges and El Bilal Khannous from Leicester, and even offered forward Richarlison as part of the deal—but nothing materialized in time.
Palace and Eze Agree to Arsenal Terms
Daily Mail Sport understands that Palace had already agreed terms with Eze and intended for him to remain available for their Conference League playoff against Fredrikstad.
However, Arsenal swooped in late in the afternoon, agreed to Palace’s conditions, and Eze — a lifelong Gunners fan — chose to join the north London rivals instead of Spurs.
Spurs Fans Frustrated
Tottenham have enjoyed some summer success, signing Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha, and securing a new deal for captain Cristian Romero.
Yet, missing out on Eze will frustrate supporters, particularly after they failed to close the deal earlier. Spurs still have interest in Manchester City winger Savinho and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, but both clubs are reluctant to sell.
What This Means for Arsenal
Instead of searching for loan or bargain options to cover Havertz, Arsenal have revisited their top-choice target and capitalized on Tottenham’s delay.
With Eze expected to finalize his move, the Gunners have added a major boost to their attacking options ahead of a busy season, turning a moment of injury concern into a strategic victory.
