How Arsenal silently hijacked Spurs’ Eberechi Eze deal well before anyone knew

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Your help makes all of the distinction. Learn extra Simply hours earlier than Arsenal clinched a deal for Eberechi Eze, in a good crueller twist, Tottenham Hotspur lastly put within the supply they felt could be acceptable to Crystal Palace. There had been a verbal settlement. Spurs simply by no means received a correct reply. The explanation quickly grew to become clear.

After days of inauspicious and painstaking negotiations between Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, Arsenal had appeared to steal in inside a matter of mere hours. That has already seen this transfer forged because the mom of all switch hijackings, particularly because it seems to be one other North London derby victory.

Besides, it wasn’t actually a hijacking in any respect. The Unbiased can now reveal that Arsenal had truly struck the rules of an settlement with Palace as early because the morning of Sunday 10 August. They managed to maintain it terribly quiet, as illustrated by the way it was solely after Wednesday night’s shock revelation that a number of sources had been prepared to speak about it.

There was additionally the truth that, in these 9 days, it didn’t appear like Arsenal would comply with by on that settlement. The phrase put out was that they needed to promote earlier than making some other buy, and that they most popular a left winger. Curiosity in Eze was repeatedly performed down. There had been numerous blended messages, which match with the entire summer time regarding the Palace star.

Levy may actually really feel he’s had blended messages now. The scenario has led to some shocking sympathy for him throughout the sport – if additionally appreciable schadenfreude. Their very own negotiations for Eze had encountered repeated difficulties, as first reported by The Unbiased on Saturday evening. The issues truly preceded that. Talks virtually collapsed the Thursday earlier than, and there have been fixed hold-ups over points like add-ons and the way a lot was being paid up entrance. When one concern was solved, one other would come up.

One description over the previous few days was that “the deal is each virtually completed and always on the level of collapse”. There's now a perception, particularly inside Spurs, that Palace had been stalling. They had been ready for Arsenal to return again, since competitors would imply getting a greater value.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/20/22/28/Eze-Arsenal.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/20/22/28/Eze-Arsenal.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C560%2C2481%2C0&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/08/20/22/28/Eze-Arsenal.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C560%2C2481%2C0&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Eberechi Eze (left) in action against Arsenal in 2023" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Eberechi Eze (left) in motion towards Arsenal in 2023 (Getty Pictures) It nonetheless appeared so distant by Saturday that Eze himself had accepted Arsenal wasn’t going to occur. He even spoke to Parish to try to get a Spurs transfer sorted, as Levy and the Palace chairman met on Monday morning. Tottenham appeared like they'd a transparent run. Eze was genuinely enthusiastic about becoming a member of the membership. It simply wasn’t the one he actually needed. His dream was a transfer to Arsenal.

Then all of a sudden, it appeared like it could turn into a actuality on Wednesday morning. Arsenal lastly acted on that deal. That abrupt transfer will likely be linked to Kai Havertz’s harm, however there's truly hope the German’s absence received’t be for too lengthy, possibly lower than three months. The Havertz information simply accelerated every thing. Arsenal needed to ensure they didn’t miss out.

Parish and Arsenal government vice-chairman Tim Lewis have a more in-depth relationship than Parish and Levy, even when they usually bicker. They WhatsApp one another loads about laws and different in-game points. That helped the acceleration of talks on Wednesday, particularly since they'd that Sunday 10 August settlement.

One other benefit for Arsenal is that they've extra gamers they will supply Palace in positions they want strengthening. It's doable {that a} deal will subsequent be completed for Jakub Kiwior, given how Oliver Glasner’s aspect want a centre-half. Any such sale would nonetheless be a separate switch.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/25/13/99ab7cee4d7a18c5f7ac9ebbf6fb9ae6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4MjYwMDE3-2.79637473.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/25/13/99ab7cee4d7a18c5f7ac9ebbf6fb9ae6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4MjYwMDE3-2.79637473.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/25/13/99ab7cee4d7a18c5f7ac9ebbf6fb9ae6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzQ4MjYwMDE3-2.79637473.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Daniel Levy and Tottenham have missed out on another potentially key transfer this summer" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Daniel Levy and Tottenham have missed out on one other probably key switch this summer time (PA Wire) Arsenal, for his or her half, nonetheless needed to pay greater than the preliminary settlement to make sure they really beat Spurs to the signing. Whereas Arsenal’s earlier construction had been for £50m plus £10m in add-ons, the brand new deal is for £60m and £7.5m in add-ons – just about precisely Eze’s launch clause, which expired for this window on Thursday. It's understood to have been superior to Spurs’ ultimate supply.

Parish performed his half masterfully. He received the absolute best deal for his membership, which was the best-case situation for those who’re compelled to lose one of many membership’s biggest legends. Eze did simply ship the primary main trophy within the membership’s historical past. Queens Park Rangers will even be celebrating, since they stand to obtain 15 per cent of any deal. The Loftus Highway hierarchy will now be aiming to finish extra enterprise of their very own, as they now have essentially the most cash they’ve had in years.

Eze has in the end most popular Arsenal as a result of they provide higher alternatives for extra trophies than simply the FA Cup – honours which he can affect – but in addition due to his dream. The connection was there. Eze educated at Arsenal till he was 13. When he posted on Instagram on 26 Could, celebrating Palace’s FA Cup success, the fifth and final image was a conspicuous picture of Ian Wright.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/17/15/23/Eberechi-Eze-of-Crystal-Palace-celebrates-scoring-his-teams-first-goal.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/17/15/23/Eberechi-Eze-of-Crystal-Palace-celebrates-scoring-his-teams-first-goal.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/05/17/15/23/Eberechi-Eze-of-Crystal-Palace-celebrates-scoring-his-teams-first-goal.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Eze was the hero for Crystal Palace in their FA Cup final triumph" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Eze was the hero for Crystal Palace of their FA Cup ultimate triumph (The FA through Getty Pictures) Oliver Glasner on Thursday all-but confirmed Eze has performed his final sport in a Crystal Palace shirt. He stated the attacker pulled out on the day of their historic 1-0 Convention League play-off victory over Fredrikstad.

Glasner revealed he acquired a cellphone name from Eze, who stated he was not feeling properly sufficient to play. "I am chargeable for Crystal Palace and I feel he will not play for us once more," stated Glasner when requested to verify whether or not Eze was heading to the Emirates Stadium.

This can be a large switch, with some huge cash at stake. Levy is aware of the price of that now. He'll face even higher questions having misplaced out on two massive transfers late on this summer time, together with Morgan Gibbs-White. Fan protests at Spurs are more likely to warmth up once more.

Arsenal have in the meantime signed a game-changer, which some felt is likely to be lacking in comparison with Liverpool’s and Manchester Metropolis's enterprise. They’ve now pulled off the deal of the summer time, given the scale and the rivalry. It may very well be vastly important within the season.