Eberechi Eze has confessed that he was on the brink of joining Tottenham Hotspur during the summer transfer window before a last-minute intervention from Mikel Arteta completely changed his decision. The English midfielder revealed that Arsenal’s manager said something that deeply resonated with him, ultimately convincing him to choose the red side of North London over their fierce rivals.
Eze completed his big-money move from Crystal Palace to Arsenal just a little over a week before the transfer deadline. The deal, reportedly worth around £67.5 million, was one of the standout transfers of the summer, marking a major statement of intent from Arteta’s side.
Although Arsenal had been monitoring Eze earlier in the window, they only made their official move much later — right when Spurs appeared to be closing in on a deal. At that time, it seemed certain that Eze would become a Tottenham player until Arsenal’s sudden approach turned everything upside down.
The Gunners’ move was sparked by Kai Havertz’s unfortunate knee injury shortly after their win against Manchester United. That incident opened the door for Eze, with Arsenal acting swiftly to secure the midfielder and beat Tottenham to his signature in dramatic fashion.
Reflecting on his decision, Eze told The Athletic: “I was ready to go to Tottenham, but once Arsenal called, it was always going to be them.” He spoke emotionally about making his debut for the Gunners, describing it as a surreal experience — the fulfillment of a childhood dream he’d held since his early years in the Arsenal academy, where he trained from age eight to thirteen.
Since arriving, Eze has already featured ten times for Arsenal across all competitions, recording three assists and scoring once in the Carabao Cup against Port Vale. His performances have quickly made him a fan favorite and a key creative force in Arteta’s system.
As Eze prepares to face his former club Crystal Palace for the first time since leaving, he remains thankful for the role the Eagles played in his development. “At Palace, I learned how much relationships and people matter — that human connection is everything,” he said. “That lesson will stay with me forever, and it’s something I’ll carry throughout the rest of my career.”
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