Arsenal summer signing Eberechi Eze has lifted the lid on his summer saga, admitting he was open to joining Tottenham Hotspur — right up until Arsenal made their move. The midfielder says once the Gunners entered the race, the decision was simple, turning a long-running story into a rapid finish.
The tale tracks a patient wait for a formal bid, Spurs stepping up first after the loss of James Maddison, and negotiations that stalled just long enough for Arsenal to pounce. When the call came from north London’s red half, Eze chose the club where his earliest football memories were formed.
Eberechi Eze Arsenal transfer admission changes the narrative
Speaking this week, Eze confirmed he had been ready to join Spurs — until Arsenal arrived. “I was prepared to go to Tottenham, but from the moment Arsenal came, it was always going to be them,” he said, via The Athletic. The shift felt decisive and personal, rooted in a connection that pre-dates his senior career.
Eze added that his first senior outing for Arsenal felt surreal, the culmination of a long-held ambition. The quick turn from Spurs front-runner to Arsenal signing underlined how fast a transfer race can flip when a player’s preferred destination finally shows their hand.
Talks stalled on the Eberechi Eze Tottenham move
For several days, a switch to Tottenham looked likely after their concrete interest arrived first. Spurs, reeling from the loss of James Maddison, moved to fill the creative gap. But negotiations dragged. That delay proved costly once Arsenal accelerated their pursuit and closed the deal.
The order of events matters. Tottenham concrete offer arrived first and set the pace, but negotiations dragged before Arsenal arrival. When the Gunners made their intent clear, Eze’s choice became straightforward and the saga ended quickly.
From academy to reality
Eze’s connection to Arsenal runs deep. He played for the club between the ages of eight and thirteen, a formative spell that embedded a long-term pull. “It almost didn’t feel real because it’s something I’ve been dreaming of for a long time,” he said of that first senior appearance in red.
That emotional thread helps explain why a drawn-out negotiation elsewhere could be overtaken by a late, decisive approach from Arsenal. For the player, this was as much about fit and belonging as it was about timing and opportunity.
