Sport

What next for Eberechi Eze ?

When Eberechi Eze scored Crystal Palace’s winning goal in the FA Cup final against Manchester City in May, he could have been forgiven for thinking his work with the Eagles was done. But that isn’t what makes his character so special.

The narrative in the build-up to the game was all about how the 26-year-old – turning 27 on Sunday– had to battle rejection to reach the highest level. He was released by Arsenal, Millwall, Bristol City and Sunderland among others along the way, but Queens Park Rangers gave him his chance to shine before a move £16m move to Selhurst Park in 2020. Watching Eze has always been a joy; he plays the game like he is in the street, care free and with a beaming smile. He is infectious, both in terms of giving fans a great experience and driving his team on to perform better on the pitch.

But it is hard to argue against the suggestion that he has remained underappreciated even as a Premier League player. Credit hasn’t come his way enough outside of South London, where he is adored and given the freedom to really express himself. While top clubs have often glanced curiously in his direction, serious interest has not been something Palace have had to deal with, not that they’ll be complaining.

Unfortunately, it is not too hard to understand why. Football has rarely been as robotic and systematic as it is now; a sport made for joy and excitement is becoming more and more scientific. Formations, tactics and data take precedence over entertainment and instinct. With more money comes more competition; controlling variables and marginal gains are the order of the day. While that is understandable due to the increased pressure to win, free spirits like Eze are seen as outsiders. They’re mavericks, loved by fans but potentially not so trusted by scouts, analysts and sporting directors.

Last season. Eze scored eight goals and registered eight assists in the Premier League; 16 goal contributions in total. It was his best return to date, though perhaps not eye-catching enough to justify a move to a club capable of paying his £68m release clause, considering he is about to pass the invisible ‘re-sale’ line in terms of age. With everything scrutinised due to money, amazingly 27 is considered old. He won’t likely get better than he is right now, but he’ll hit this level for some years yet. It is also worth noting that much of what makes Eze great is his quality in underlying stats; he played the 15th most key passes in the league last season with 51 and the eighth most take-ons with 60. He is incredibly involved in the game, even if he isn’t directly impacting goals all the time.

Maybe the FA Cup goal was a seminal moment. England caps are becoming more common, since his debut in 2023, he has 11 and is a regular in the squad, although he is looked down on somewhat because of his style, seen as little more than an impact player off the bench.

But overall, he is gaining more respect. Reports linking him with a move to Tottenham or Arsenal, both of whom are in the Champions League, appear to be gathering pace. That is not to say he should definitely look for an exit from Palace, a club which has built around him and allowed him to thrive, who will give him the chance to showcase his skills in the Europa League next season.

As football moves more into the realm of data and science, it shouldn’t forget its true purpose: fun. Eze is a player who embodies that, and though he has proven himself to be one of the league’s best, he deserves more respect for the way he plays rather than what the stats say.