Eberechi Eze left out of Crystal Palace team amid reports of imminent Arsenal move
Dave Shopland/AP
Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze warms up before the FA Community Shield final soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium in London,Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.
Dave Shopland/AP
LONDON (AP) — Eberechi Eze was left out of Crystal Palace's team for its Conference League playoff match on Thursday amid reports the England forward is about to join Arsenal.
Palace named a close-to-full-strength team against Fredrikstad and Eze was the standout omission, not even included among the substitutes.
Widespread reports in the British media said Eze has agreed to a transfer to Arsenal, which has moved late in the summer window for a player who was reportedly close to joining north London rival Tottenham.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
The 27-year-old Eze will cost an initial 60 million pounds ($80 million), according to the reports, including from the BBC. It would take Arsenal's spending in this summer transfer window to around 250 million pounds ($335 million).
Neither Palace nor Arsenal have commented publicly on any potential deal.
Eze was a youth-team player with Arsenal before being released as a teenager. He started his professional career at second-tier Queens Park Rangers before moving to Palace in 2020, where he has become one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in the league and a regular in the England squad. He played at last year's European Championship.
Last season, Eze scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final as Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 to qualify for European competition for the first time.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
___
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Florian Wirtz bats away price-tag questions following Anfield debut
Liverpool's marquee summer signing Florian Wirtz has insisted that his record-breaking price tag will not affect his performances as he prepares for his debut Premier League season. The 22-year-old German attacking midfielder could become the most expensive player in British football history, with the total cost of his transfer from Bayer Leverkusen potentially rising to £116 million if all add-ons are triggered. Despite the scrutiny that comes with such a fee, Wirtz remains calm and focused. Speaking to reporters after Liverpool's pre-season friendly against Athletic Club, the former Bundesliga star made it clear that the financial side of the move is not something that concerns him. 'I just want to play football and how much money the clubs pay between each other, it doesn't matter,' said Wirtz. 'I came because I thought I could fit in this team and I am enjoying staying with these players. I am a player who needs freedom on the pitch and the manager gives it to me.' Wirtz also spoke about his role in the team and how he hopes to contribute in the final third, adding: 'I will try to find the right places to be and the right spaces to get on the ball and to be dangerous and create chances.' Having spent his entire professional career in Germany until now, Wirtz admitted that moving to England has been a significant step, but one he is embracing. He praised the support of his new team-mates, many of whom are also recent arrivals, saying that having others to share the transition with has made settling in easier. 'They tell me it's more intense and more physical and that every player is really strong, really fast,' he said of the Premier League. 'I am really looking forward to play there and experience some differences to Germany, but I think there is also something I can learn that will make me better.' Wirtz added that he is already looking ahead to the team's title defence, knowing the difficulty of repeating such success. 'The big challenge is to win the title again and it is the most difficult thing to do,' he said. 'I will just try to create chances and work hard off the ball and run a lot to help make the team better.' As the season approaches, all eyes will be on Wirtz to see whether he can match the hype and deliver in one of the world's most competitive leagues. If his attitude and early performances are any indication, Liverpool fans may have good reason to be optimistic. 📸 Carl Recine - 2025 Getty Images
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Crystal Palace take one-goal lead into Conference League play-off second leg
Crystal Palace edged to a narrow advantage in their Conference League play-off as Jean-Philippe Mateta's strike secured a 1-0 first-leg win over Norwegian cup winners Fredrikstad. The FA Cup winners were demoted from the League Phase of the Europa League and forced to play a Conference League qualifier, due to a perceived breach of multi-club ownership regulations. Welcoming their team onto the pitch for their maiden European clash under the lights at Selhurst Park, the Palace support belted an impassioned rendition of Glad All Over. However, they soon made their feelings towards Uefa clear, booing the Conference League anthem – which is amusingly the same as the Europa League theme – before chanting in unison: F**k Uefa, F**k John Textor, F**k Marinakis. Palace hold that trio accountable for their downgrade to the third tier of European competition. It was an anticlimactic start for Palace, without starman Eberechi Eze who is nearing a move to London neighbours Arsenal, with Fredrikstad's disciplined defensive shape neutralising their threat. There was little creative pizzazz from Palace, who were reliant on punts from deep to tot up 13 shots in the first half. Intrinsically, Oliver Glasner's outfit are optimal against more ambitious sides, with bursting runs in behind from Ismaila Sarr easily found with incisive through balls between the lines. A style of play suited to the English game. But as one of the favourites in the competition, Palace will need to find answers, with opponents likely to sit deep and make life difficult for the English side. Palace sought solutions, Adam Wharton frequently dinked balls from deep into the Fredrikstad penalty area, attempting to break their compact shape. Sarr had a chance to nod one of those crosses home when found at the far post, Martin Børsheim produced an impressive stop. Hughes brought down a punt into the area by Justin Devenny, the ball fell for Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose effort deflected onto the post. There was pragmatism from Palace, as they attempted to work out how to deal with the difficult Fredrikstad, but for much of the first half, they were too flat. Mateta found Palace's first in Europe, when Fredrikstad failed to deal with Borna Sosa's long throw. A pair of Will Hughes volleys followed from the edge of the box, the second of which flew towards Mateta's head, who instinctively used his head to divert Hughes' attempt into the back of the net in the 54th minute. An imperfect move finally paid off. Palace upped the ante after they opened their European account, the link-ups were smoother, the play was not as clunky, and they started to occupy higher areas of the pitch. Daniel Munoz almost added a second when his compatriot Jefferson Lerma spotted him alone at the back post, but his attempt could only be guided onto the post. It could have been a disastrous end when a tempting ball down the left unlocked the Palace defence in the third minute of four added on. Henrik Skogvold drove into the penalty area, but dragged his effort hopelessly wide of the Palace net. Dean Henderson and all inside Selhurst Park breathed a sigh of relief. Palace will need to better their display when they head to foreign soil (well, astroturf) next week as they look to book their spot in the League Phase of the Conference League.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Crystal Palace have left it ‘very late' to sign replacements
Oliver Glasner says Crystal Palace have left it very late to make additional signings with just ten days remaining in the transfer window. Eberechi Eze missed his side's 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Conference League playoff against Fredrikstad on Thursday as he nears a move to Arsenal. Club captain Marc Guehi played the entirety of the match, but he too faces an uncertain future and has been in talks with Liverpool over a potential move this summer. Advertisement After the victory at Selhurst Park, Glasner discussed how Palace have negotiated Eze and Guehi's futures this summer. He said: 'My job is to prepare the team. I am not involved in the transfer stuff that is going on. I just know that he (Eze) was not available today. We are very late. We have ten days to go (in the transfer window) to find the right replacements. Again, I think we could have done much better than we did. It is not criticism, it is just telling facts. 'This group of players are really working so hard in every single game. Today, there were 17 on-field players available, one from the academy, and two players who we have already told that they should leave the club. So that means we have 14. I trust them completely, but with six games in the month of August, it is not the best way to start the season. I think we are below the edge. 'I just know if Marc (Guehi) leaves, and is not available for Fredrikstad, we would have big problems. It's pretty clear. We can't register anyone. So from my side, he has to stay. 'And I can't do anything, you know. I can't sign the player's contract. So we have to act. We need this. And this is Crystal Palace's future. And we need to add not numbers. It's easy to add 10 numbers. We need the right players. The profile is defined for months. Honestly, and this is again, say it like it is, we missed replacing him early enough ,that's completely our fault and nobody else's.' Palace chairman Steve Parish was also asked about Eze. He told Channel 5 Sport: 'We have to move past. He (Eze) has been fantastic for the club, and we all love him for what he has done and achieved. We are pleased that he is going to go on and fulfil the other ambitions that he's got. 'The king is dead, long live the king. We have to move past it and find other players to bring in that could support Oliver and the rest of the team. Advertisement 'We will bring in players. It is about finding the right ones. It is difficult to replace players like that, and the squad was probably a little bit thin anyway. We will try and use the money and try to make ourselves, maybe not individually as good, but a bit broader with a stronger base. A few more options, that is what we will try and do.' When asked why Eze had been left out of the matchday squad for Palace's Europa Conference League game, Glasner told Channel 5 Sport before the game: 'Honestly, I expected that he (Eze) would start today for us. He called me this morning and told me that he doesn't feel well to play this evening. Of course, I have to accept it. Everything else, you have to ask the chairman.' After the game, the Palace head coach commented on the fact that even if the club were to replace Eze and possibly Guehi too, the deadline had passed for their replacements to be in the squad for the second leg of the qualification tie next Thursday. 'For us, it is about bringing in the right players until the end of the window,' Glasner continued. 'Nobody will be allowed to play in Norway (August 28). The deadline was yesterday at 11pm. I am confident that when we go with this group that we will qualify for the group stage.' Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
