What Eberechi Eze said about Arsenal rejection as dream transfer becomes reality

Eberechi Eze's dreams are coming true, 14 years after they were snatched away from him.

Arsenal look set to complete a deal for the 27-year-old England international in the coming days, with a medical set for Friday, after Eze plays in Crystal Palace's Conference League clash with Fredrikstad on Thursday night.

Eze will sign for the Gunners in a £67.5million deal, having initially looked set to join Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham. Spurs were in talks over a deal to sign Eze, but Arsenal swooped to hijack the deal, having previously held talks earlier in the transfer window.

And Eze's move to the Emirates Stadium will be 14 years in the making.

The Crystal Palace ace was in the Arsenal academy as a teenager, but was released by the club. He went on to be rejected by Fulham, Reading and Millwall before being picked up by Queens Park Rangers.

The rest is history, with Eze carving out an excellent career for himself and he is now an England regular.

But that rejection by Arsenal hit hard and speaks volumes as to why the 27-year-old has chosen the Gunners now.

Speaking to Rising Ballers in 2022, Eze said: "Arsenal was probably the hardest. My dream was to play for them, so hearing them say no at 13 that was, that was tough and I remember training after I got released and I couldn't focus, I was just crying while I was training!

"I remember crying in my room for a solid week, my mum telling me that it’s going to be OK but not being able to get over it. Then I went to Fulham and I was finally starting to enjoy my football again.

"We played Arsenal a few months later but, when I went over to shake the academy manager's hand, I started welling up. All the feelings came back."

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