'I was prepared': Eberechi Eze makes Tottenham admission after Arsenal transfer hijack

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·25 de octubre de 2025

'I was prepared': Eberechi Eze makes Tottenham admission after Arsenal transfer hijack

Eze was at the centre of a transfer tussle between the two north London rivals during the summer window

Eberechi Eze was unveiled by Arsenal before the 5-0 win over Leeds in August

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Eberechi Eze has admitted he was prepared to join Tottenham this summer before Arsenal made their move.

Eze sealed his switch to Arsenal from Crystal Palace with just over a week until transfer Deadline Day in a deal that could eventually be worth £67.5million.

The Gunners had expressed an interest in the midfielder earlier in the summer window, but they did not make their move until the latter stages - at a time when it appeared the England international was on his way to Spurs.

Ultimately though, Arsenal swooped for Eze after Kai Havertz suffered a knee injury following the win over Manchester United, and in doing so beating their north London rivals to the signing.

When asked why he did not join Spurs, as per The Athletic, Eze said: “I was prepared to go to Tottenham, but from the moment Arsenal came, it was always going to be them.

“My first (senior) Arsenal game was special. It almost didn’t feel real because it’s something I’ve been dreaming of for a long time.

“Playing for Arsenal from eight to 13, it’s been in the back of my mind wanting to go back. It felt like the realisation of a dream.”

Eberechi Eze opened his Arsenal account against Port Vale

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Eze has now made ten appearances for Arsenal across all competitions, weighing in with three assists and scoring once against Port Vale in the Carabao Cup third round.

This weekend, the attacking midfielder is set to face former club Crystal Palace for the first time since leaving in the summer, but remains grateful for what the Eagles did for his career.

“(At Crystal Palace) I learnt that relationships and connecting with people are far more important than anything else,” Eze adds.

“What you can do for people, that feeling you can’t replicate in many other places, so that’s something that will live with me forever and something I will continue to live by for the rest of my career.”