Arsenal Football Club is reportedly preparing to intensify its pursuit of Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, following the near-finalization of their acquisition of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres.
The North London club is understood to have reached full agreement on personal terms and transfer conditions for the Sweden international, with an official announcement of the £63.5 million deal expected imminently. This development is anticipated to allow the club to redirect its focus toward securing the services of Eze.
Eze, aged 27, has been the subject of significant transfer speculation during the current window, particularly after playing a pivotal role in Crystal Palace’s historic FA Cup triumph last season, during which he scored the decisive goal in the final against Manchester City.
While Arsenal has emerged as the leading contender for his signature, the club has not yet submitted a formal offer, having been primarily engaged in negotiations surrounding the Gyökeres transfer.
According to The Independent, Arsenal Football Club is now preparing to submit a formal proposal in the region of £60 million for the transfer of Eberechi Eze. The offer is expected to be structured across three instalments.
Although the proposed sum falls short of the midfielder’s £67 million release clause, it is understood that the respective boardrooms of Arsenal and Crystal Palace maintain a constructive and professional working relationship, which is expected to facilitate negotiations conducted in good faith.
This cooperative atmosphere represents a notable shift for Arsenal, particularly following the protracted nature of their recently concluded two-month pursuit of Viktor Gyökeres.
Eberechi Eze is reportedly open to a transfer to Arsenal, with sources close to the matter expressing confidence that a deal is likely to be finalized in the coming weeks.
Should Arsenal be unwilling to meet the full cash valuation, there is speculation that winger Reiss Nelson may be included in the transaction as part of a player-plus-cash arrangement. However, while Eze’s acquisition is not believed to be contingent on the sale of current squad members, it is understood that Arsenal would prefer to offload an existing asset prior to committing to a significant outlay for the Crystal Palace midfielder.
In the previous Premier League season, Eze recorded eight goals and eight assists, contributing meaningfully to Crystal Palace’s 12th-place finish under manager Oliver Glasner.
Eze’s potential departure would represent a significant loss for Palace, who are already facing uncertainty over the futures of several key players, including centre-back Marc Guehi—reportedly a target for Liverpool—and forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is attracting interest from multiple clubs.
Should Arsenal reach an agreement with Crystal Palace in the region of £60 million for Eze, it would bring the club’s total summer transfer expenditure to over £250 million, inclusive of the expected signing of Viktor Gyökeres.
Additional new arrivals for the 2025–26 season include Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Cristian Mosquera, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Christian Nørgaard. Manager Mikel Arteta, who had previously voiced frustration over the club’s lack of attacking reinforcements during the January transfer window, appears to have received substantial financial backing this summer—the first under new sporting director Andrea Berta, who succeeded Edu.#newsafro_
