Eze left out of Crystal Palace squad before reported Arsenal transfer

Eberechi Eze was omitted from Crystal Palace's matchday squad Thursday as he reportedly nears a move to Arsenal.

Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign Eze for over £60 million, reports transfer insider Fabrizio Romano. The Gunners are set to beat out local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who were in advanced negotiations to sign the attacking midfielder.

Arsenal matched the financial package offered by Spurs, and Eze, a boyhood Arsenal fan who played for the club's academy, reportedly made the final decision on which of the north London teams he preferred to join.

The 27-year-old was initially expected to play in Palace's Conference League playoff match against Fredrikstad before undergoing a medical with Arsenal. However, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner revealed to supporters outside Selhurst Park that Eze wouldn't feature in the game before the squad was officially announced with Justin Devenny selected in the fan favorite's usual place, according to Sky Sports News' Gary Cotterill.

Eze would become Arsenal's seventh signing of a busy summer, the club's first under new sporting director Andrea Berta.

Arsenal's accelerated move for Eze came after the team learned of an injury to Kai Havertz. The German forward will reportedly miss time with a knee issue, which spurred the title hopefuls back into action in the transfer market.

Eze has made 169 appearances for Crystal Palace since his transfer from Queens Park Rangers in 2020, scoring 40 goals.

His potential arrival would give Mikel Arteta another creative playmaker who can operate in multiple positions.

Though most comfortable as a No. 10, Eze will likely slot into Arsenal's lineup as a left-sided attacker, further strengthening a positional group that already includes Gabriel Martinelli and summer signing Noni Madueke.