Eberechi Eze has been left out of Crystal Palace’s matchday squad to face Fredrikstad, with a big-money transfer move to Arsenal looming.
Tonight’s Europa Conference League play-off clash had been billed as the last chance for Palace supporters to watch Eze in their colours when it appeared the midfielder was on his way to Tottenham.
But that all changed late on Wednesday night as Arsenal hijacked Spurs’ deal and overtook their bitter rivals as the frontrunners for Eze’s signature – a stunning twist in one of this summer’s most intriguing transfer sagas.
The Gunners’ dramatic 11th-hour bid to sign the England international progressed at a rapid pace before an agreement worth £60million – plus £7.5m in add-ons – was struck with Palace.
In the terms of their deal with Palace, Tottenham had begrudgingly agreed to the prospect of Eze playing for one last time against Norwegian minnows Fredrikstad, despite the obvious risk of injury.
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But an impressive performance in Palace’s goalless draw at Chelsea last weekend will now prove to be Eze’s 169th and final appearance for the south London outfit.
According to The Sun, it was agreed with Arsenal that Eze ‘won’t be taking any risks’ by featuring against Fredrikstad, with the 27-year-old determined not to jeopardise or put his dream move to the Emirates in any doubt whatsoever.
Eze has therefore been left out of Oliver Glasner’s matchday squad altogether and Eagles supporters must now get used to life without their star man who, of course, scored the winner in their historic FA Cup triumph last term.
Glasner has made a total of three changes to his team that drew at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with Chris Richards and Tyrick Mitchell also making way. Jefferson Lerma, Borna Sosa and Justin Devenny all start for the first time this season.
Glasner speaks out on Eze's omission
Speaking to Channel 5 before kick-off, the Palace boss said: ‘Honestly, I expected that he will start today for us, but he called me this morning and said that he doesn’t feel well to play in the evening and, of course, I have to accept it.
‘I have to accept it if a player tells me he is not ready to play. Then I called the player who starts instead – Justin Devaney – and made sure that he’s ready because it’s my responsibility to prepare the players who play for us in the best way.
‘You don’t like to change your starting XI on matchday, especially in this type of situation, as it’s the first time in European football for Crystal Palace. But again, we have to deal with it and this is what we do in the best way.’
Asked if Eze would be present at Selhurst Park tonight, Glasner replied: ‘I don’t know.’
Marc Guehi does keep his place in the starting XI and captains the side at Selhurst Park, despite ongoing discussions over a proposed switch to Liverpool before the transfer deadline.
Eze, a versatile attacking midfielder-cum-winger, grew up supporting Arsenal and was released from the Gunners’ academy at the age of 13, before making the grade in senior football with QPR.
It’s understood Tottenham’s hierarchy have now set their sights of securing a deal for Aston Villa and England forward Morgan Rogers having given up all hope of landing Eze.
Palace’s opening encounter with Fredrikstad this evening – the first match of a two-legged play-off round – is the club’s first-ever game in European competition.
Glasner’s men had initially been preparing to take part in this year’s Europa League after upsetting Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup final.
But it was confirmed last month that the Eagles had been thrown out of Europe’s second-tier competition and would instead be playing in Europa Conference League after breaching UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.
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