Eberechi Eze openly admits he was prepared to sign for Tottenham in a surprising public revelation.
Eberechi Eze has openly revealed that he was ready to join Tottenham Hotspur before Arsenal entered the picture and turned his head during the summer transfer window. The attacking midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Spurs, with reports at the time suggesting that negotiations were progressing well and a deal was close to completion. However, in a dramatic twist, Arsenal joined the race late in the window, changing the course of the transfer entirely.
According to reports, Tottenham had been working on the deal for several weeks, believing they were on the verge of securing Eze’s signature. But once the Gunners made their approach, the player’s mind was quickly made up. Arsenal’s interest reportedly reignited Eze’s connection with the club, where he once spent time in their youth setup, and from that moment, Tottenham’s pursuit fell apart.
For the first time since the move, Eze has spoken publicly about his transfer decision and the events that led to his switch from Crystal Palace to the Emirates. Speaking to The Athletic, the 27-year-old England international admitted just how close he came to joining Spurs, revealing that Arsenal’s involvement completely changed his plans.
“I was prepared to go to Tottenham,” Eze confessed. “But from the moment Arsenal came, it was always going to be them.”
The midfielder went on to explain what life at Arsenal has been like since making the move. “Playing for Arsenal feels more like a show or theatre,” he said. “There’s more pressure, competing for titles and playing in the Champions League, but it’s something I’ve dreamed of since being a kid. It’s not 100 per cent there yet, but I’m enjoying getting better and improving every day.”
Although Eze hasn’t started every match under Mikel Arteta this season, he has made a noticeable impact when called upon, contributing one goal and three assists so far. His creativity and composure have added depth to Arsenal’s attacking options, and many within the club believe he will become an even more influential figure as the season progresses.
Meanwhile, Tottenham were forced to adjust their plans after missing out on Eze. Spurs eventually turned to RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons as an alternative signing, with the Dutch playmaker arriving to bolster Thomas Frank’s attacking options. However, Simons has yet to fully find his rhythm in the Premier League, leaving fans questioning what might have been had Eze completed his move to north London’s other side.
Tottenham’s sporting director, Johan Lange, later reflected on the club’s failed pursuit of Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White, suggesting that missing out on both players may have worked out in Spurs’ favour. Lange claimed that Simons represented the ideal signing for Tottenham’s long-term project due to his youth, technical ability, and potential to grow within the squad.
Even so, Eze’s revelation has reignited discussion among supporters about how close Spurs came to landing one of England’s most gifted attacking midfielders. His candid admission that he was ready to wear the white shirt of Tottenham — only for Arsenal’s late intervention to sway his decision — adds another layer of intrigue to one of the summer’s most talked-about transfer stories.
