Eze leaves Crystal Palace: Goodbye to the star player heading to Arsenal?

Eberechi Eze Bids Farewell to Crystal Palace, Heading to Arsenal

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner practically confirmed Eberechi Eze’s departure from the club, after the player was absent on the day of the historic Conference League playoff match against Fredrikstad, where the team achieved a 1-0 victory. Glasner had planned to include Eze in the starting eleven for the first leg against the Norwegian team at Selhurst Park, marking Palace’s first participation in a major European competition. However, Arsenal entered the scene. Sources close to the situation reported that Arsenal has reached an agreement with Crystal Palace for a sum of 60 million pounds sterling (approximately 80.5 million dollars), with an additional 7.5 million pounds sterling (approximately 10 million dollars) in variables. Furthermore, the London club agreed on personal terms with the 27-year-old player.

• Sources: Arsenal agrees to sign Eze, a blow for Tottenham.
• Palace, without Eze, achieves a narrow victory in the first leg of the UCoL.
• Transfer rumors: Manchester United seeks the loan of Højlund.

Eze was close to joining Tottenham Hotspur before their North London rivals made their move on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, Glasner revealed that he received a phone call from Eze, who claimed not to feel well enough to play, forcing the coach to include Northern Ireland international Justin Devenny in the starting eleven.

I am responsible for Crystal Palace and I believe he will not play with us again. So I have to prepare the team for Nottingham [Forest, in the Premier League on Sunday] and for the return match against Fredrikstad, and I am planning without Eberechi.

Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace coach

When asked if Eze felt physically or mentally unwell, the Palace coach simply replied: “You have to ask him. Maybe in a few days [you can ask]”. Glasner also shared that he had never faced a situation where a player in Eze’s situation called to say he was unavailable.

No, and I don’t want it to happen again.

Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace coach

The drama and speculation surrounding Eze, along with his absence from Palace’s starting eleven, overshadowed the team’s historic debut in a major European competition, which they won 1-0 thanks to a header from Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 54th minute.

Glasner, who blamed the late transfer market for Palace’s poor start last season, did not hold back in sharing his frustration at the lack of activity in the transfer market, where they have so far only signed Croatian defender Borna Sosa for £2 million and goalkeeper Walter Benítez on a free transfer.

I can’t do anything. I can’t sign a player’s contract. We have to act. We need this. This is the future of Crystal Palace. It’s easy to add numbers, we need to add the right players.

Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace coach

In statements to the British channel Channel 5 after the victory, Palace chairman Steve Parish said:

It is what it is. We have to move on. It’s been fantastic for the club. We all love him for what he has done and achieved, and we are happy that he can move on and fulfill the other ambitions he has. The king is dead, long live the king. We have to move on and we have to find other players to bring in who can support the rest of the team and Oliver.

Steve Parish, chairman of Crystal Palace