Arsenal fans will need to wait a little longer to see Eberechi Eze in action as his move from Crystal Palace was not finalised in time to meet the Premier League’s deadline for this afternoon’s match against Leeds United.
Eze is on the verge of completing a high-profile move from Crystal Palace to Arsenal, but fans will have to wait another week to see him in action. Despite agreeing personal terms and completing his medical, the midfielder’s official registration with the Premier League is still pending.
Arsenal acted quickly to secure Eze after news of Kai Havertz’s knee injury, although The Independent reported that the England international was a top target for Mikel Arteta’s side all summer.
The 27-year-old, a former Arsenal youth player and lifelong supporter of the club, chose a switch to the Emirates over a move to Tottenham Hotspur, who had also expressed interest. His transfer is expected to be completed over the coming days, marking a return to the club where he began his football journey.
Premier League rules require that any new signing be registered by 12pm on the working day before a match, in this case Friday, to be eligible to play.
Eze’s debut could be pushed back to Arsenal’s next Premier League fixture away to champions Liverpool on Sunday 31 August. This extra time will also give him an opportunity to settle into the squad and adapt to Arteta’s tactical system.
Arsenal fans will be watching closely over the coming day for all the final steps to be completed so that Eze can finally wear the red and white of his boyhood club and bring his attacking flair to the Emirates.
