Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that Super Eagles-eligible midfielder, Eberechi Eze, no longer has a release clause in his contract, leaving his future in the hands of the club with less than two weeks left in the summer transfer window.
The 27-year-old, who has been linked with both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, started for Palace in their goalless Premier League opener against Chelsea on Sunday and even saw a goal ruled out during the game.
Speaking to reporters after the match at Stamford Bridge, Glasner said there was never any doubt about Eze’s inclusion in the squad.
“He was picked because he’s a Crystal Palace player and he’s a very good Crystal Palace player,” Glasner said. “He trained the whole week, so there was no reason not to pick him.”
Eze had a £68 million release clause in his contract, which would have allowed any club to trigger an automatic transfer if they met the valuation. That clause, however, has now expired, meaning any interested club must negotiate directly with Palace — giving the club full control over whether or not to sell their star midfielder.
“I’m quite calm,” Glasner added. “But I also know we have two weeks to go, and I know Ebs’ clause is gone, so it’s the club’s decision, and we will see what happens.”
Both North London giants — Arsenal and Tottenham have been heavily linked with a move for Eze in recent months. Spurs are believed to have already opened talks with Crystal Palace over a possible transfer, while Arsenal have shown strong interest but are yet to make a formal bid.
Eze is seen as a creative, attack-minded midfielder who could add spark and depth to either team’s midfield. With Spurs looking to strengthen ahead of their return to European football, and Arsenal aiming to close the gap on Manchester City in the title race, Eze remains a top target for both clubs.
Palace, on the other hand, are keen to hold onto one of their most valuable assets. With Michael Olise already departing for Bayern Munich earlier in the window, losing Eze would be a huge blow to their attacking setup.
Born in England to Nigerian parents, Eze has consistently been one of Crystal Palace’s top performers since joining from Queens Park Rangers in 2020. Known for his dribbling, flair, and goal-scoring ability, he scored 11 goals in the Premier League last season and provided several assists.
Eze was part of England’s provisional Euro 2024 squad earlier this year but did not make the final team. However, he remains eligible to switch allegiance to Nigeria, which has led to growing calls from Nigerian fans and officials for him to commit to the Super Eagles ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Now that his release clause has expired, any club looking to sign Eze will need to reach an agreement with Crystal Palace directly. That puts the South London club in a strong position to either keep him or demand a fee higher than the previous £68 million clause.
With the Premier League transfer window closing on Friday, August 30, time is running out for clubs to make a move. While Tottenham seem the more active of the two suitors, Arsenal’s need for midfield creativity could still push them into the race before the deadline.
Crystal Palace will also be watching developments closely. Losing Eze would not only weaken the squad but could also create pressure to find a last-minute replacement — a difficult task this late in the window.
Under manager Oliver Glasner, Palace have started the season with a more organized and disciplined structure. Holding Chelsea to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge is already seen as a positive result, and keeping key players like Eze could help the team push for a top-half finish this season.
While the club remains quiet on any ongoing negotiations, the message from Glasner is clear: Eze is still a Palace player, and unless the club chooses otherwise, he will remain so.
“We’ll see what happens,” Glasner repeated, leaving the door open for a possible last-minute twist.
The summer transfer window in England will close at 11:00 PM on August 30. Until then, clubs are allowed to buy, sell, or loan players.
In recent seasons, the Premier League has seen a surge in late-window drama, with big-money deals being finalized in the final hours. Whether Eberechi Eze becomes one of those headline moves remains to be seen.
But for now, Palace fans can breathe at least a little easier knowing that their star midfielder can’t be taken away without their club’s say.
