Crystal Palace have stunned the football world with a dramatic late U-turn that sealed Eberechi Eze’s £67.5 million transfer, while also blocking his chance to say farewell to the fans on the pitch.
The south London club reached an agreement worth £60 million upfront plus £7.5 million in add-ons, marking a record-breaking sale in Palace’s history. The 27-year-old star had looked set for a different move earlier in the window, but the deal was flipped at the last moment after frantic negotiations.
Eze, who has become a fan favorite since arriving from Queens Park Rangers in 2020 for £17 million, will not play in Palace’s Europa Conference League clash against Fredrikstad. Instead, he will sit in the stands at Selhurst Park.
The decision, though painful for supporters, was made to protect the transfer. With so much money at stake, neither the buying club nor Palace wanted to risk an injury that could jeopardize the deal.
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For Palace fans, the news comes as a double blow. Not only are they losing their most creative player, but they are also being denied the chance to give him a proper send-off.
Eze has played 167 games for the Eagles, dazzling supporters with his skills, goals, and ability to turn matches with moments of magic. Many were hoping for one last performance, one final cheer, before he left.
Manager Oliver Glasner admitted earlier in the week that both Eze and captain Marc Guehi, who is also being linked with a move away, remained fully committed to Palace until their future was settled.
“Many of you were surprised he (Eze) and Marc started against Chelsea,” Glasner said before Thursday’s match. “You may be surprised they start tomorrow, but they are committed to the team. If they leave, they want to leave as the guys who gave 100 per cent to Crystal Palace.”
But ultimately, the decision was taken out of his hands. Chairman Steve Parish, working behind the scenes, gave the green light for the transfer after talks with intermediaries.
What makes this saga even more dramatic is the timing. Palace had initially held back negotiations because they wanted to keep Eze available for the Conference League play-off. But the urgency of the transfer window, combined with huge financial stakes, pushed the club to act decisively.
The U-turn meant Palace shifted from planning to play their talisman to protecting him in the stands, a move that fans will struggle to accept, even if they understand the business side of football.
For the buying club, this deal is a statement of intent. Eze’s arrival adds flair, creativity, and Premier League experience to a squad that already invested heavily this summer. Over £200 million has been spent on reinforcements, including Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard, and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
This spending spree shows ambition at the highest level. The addition of Eze suggests that the team is building not just for domestic success but also to challenge on the European stage.
Supporters of the buying club are buzzing with excitement, already dreaming about how Eze will combine with their attacking stars to unlock defenses.
Meanwhile, Palace supporters are left with mixed emotions: pride that one of their own has reached this level, but sorrow that his last chapter at Selhurst Park ends with him sitting in the stands instead of dazzling on the field.
For Eze, the move represents the biggest step of his career so far. Champions League football, title battles, and the chance to play at the very top now await him.
It may be a painful goodbye for Palace, but it is also a reminder of the reality of modern football: business moves fast, loyalty has limits, and late U-turns can change everything.
And with that, the transfer earthquake is complete: Eberechi Eze is gone, sealed by a late U-turn, and Palace fans will never see their magician in red and blue again.
