Transfer Talk and Rumours: Arsenal Hijack Spurs for Eberechi Eze as Leeds Land Okafor and Chelsea Weigh Jackson Exit

If you woke up in Joburg and checked your phone between meetings, you probably saw it lighting up with one theme. Eberechi Eze to Arsenal. The Gunners moved late, matched Tottenham’s offer and are now set to bring the Crystal Palace star to the red half of North London in a £67.5m package that has Spurs fans fuming and Arsenal supporters dancing in the group chats.

How Arsenal stole it

Tottenham believed they had everything lined up on Wednesday. Talks with Palace, talks with Eze, the feeling that this one was within reach after James Maddison’s ACL injury and after Morgan Gibbs-White committed to Nottingham Forest. Arsenal had explored the conditions of a deal back in June, then shifted focus to other positions and outgoings.

After Kai Havertz picked up an injury at Old Trafford, Arsenal re-entered, matched Spurs’ £60m plus £7.5m add-ons, and went straight for the finish line. Eze’s medical could happen as soon as Friday. He is still expected to be in Palace’s squad for their Conference League play-off vs Fredrikstad on Thursday and wants to say goodbye to the fans.

Worth noting for the Champions League calculator in your head: UEFA rules allow Eze to play a qualifying round for Palace and still be eligible for Arsenal in the Champions League league phase.

The money, the clause, the context

Eze’s release clause of £60m plus £8m in add-ons expired before the season started, so Arsenal have effectively landed near that number anyway. The forward has two years left on his Palace deal and started in the draw at Chelsea last weekend. Spurs had even weighed up including Richarlison to move pieces around. They wanted to open a striker slot and chase Yoane Wissa, who wants Newcastle, although Brentford rejected Newcastle’s second bid on Wednesday.

Why Arteta wanted Eze

On the ball, Eze is box office. Last season he produced a blistering run, scoring in six straight games, including the FA Cup semi-final and final at Wembley, powering Palace to a first major honour. Palace boss Oliver Glasner admitted it was a “strange season” through injuries, but the run-in showed Eze at full spark again.

For Arsenal, he brings something different to Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli on that left side. With Viktor Gyökeres now leading the line, the idea of Eze threading those slide-rule passes is exactly the kind of unpredictability that can break deep blocks. There is also the romance: Eze was in Arsenal’s academy before being released at 13 and has openly supported Arsenal. It reads like a second chance written by football.

North London reaction in the timeline age

Online, Spurs fans aimed frustration at the hierarchy for not triggering the clause earlier. Some pointed out the clause may have required a lump-sum payment. Arsenal Twitter, meanwhile, could not resist the “hijack” memes. In South Africa, where Premier League loyalties split sharply between Arsenal and Spurs communities in Joburg and Cape Town, local fan pages leaned into the narrative. The Arsenal side called it a “homecoming” and Spurs threads asked, “how did we let this slip?”

Leeds get busy: Noah Okafor arrives

Away from the derby drama, Leeds United confirmed Noah Okafor from AC Milan on a four-year deal, fee reported up to £18m. Fresh off promotion, this is signing number nine, taking the summer spend to around £92m. Okafor can play either wing or centrally, which likely ends their interest in Tottenham’s Manor Solomon. He comes with pedigree from Basel, a prolific stint at Salzburg and experience in Serie A, including a loan spell at Napoli last season. Daniel Farke still wants a full-back, and possibly another forward, but this is a serious depth play for Elland Road.

Chelsea’s moving parts: Jackson, Nkunku and the aisle marked “exits”

Nicolas Jackson will miss the trip to West Ham as he explores a move. Aston Villa and Newcastle are interested, with Chelsea valuing him at about £60m after bringing in João Pedro and Liam Delap for a combined £90m. Christopher Nkunku has admirers at Bayern Munich, though he is training with the group. Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling are working alone as they push for moves. Wesley Fofana wiped Chelsea from Instagram then returned to the squad last weekend, which Maresca played down. Romeo Lavia and Benoît Badiashile remain sidelined.

United’s fork in the road: Højlund and Sancho

Rasmus Højlund is open to a loan only with an obligation to buy, not an option. Interest is live from Napoli, RB Leipzig and AC Milan. With Romelu Lukaku injured at Napoli, the path there looks clearest. Jadon Sancho is on Inter’s shortlist, Roma are still around, and both Dortmund and Juventus would make sense for a reset. Besiktas have asked the question too. Meanwhile RB Leipzig have agreed personal terms with Harvey Elliott as a replacement for Xavi Simons, who is set for Chelsea at around €60m after the Bundesliga opener.

Newcastle’s nuclear week: Wissa bids rejected and the Isak saga

Brentford rejected Newcastle’s £35m plus £5m add-ons for Yoane Wissa and want more than £40m. Wissa still wants St James’ Park. Then came the big bombshell. Alexander Isak wants Liverpool, saying “promises were broken and trust is lost.” Newcastle responded that no promise to sell was ever made. The backdrop matters here. The club navigated PSR threats last year by selling Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, and they keep a tight wage structure. There is boardroom churn, a new sporting direction and a fanbase that had expected star renewals. They renewed Anthony Gordon in October 2024, but Isak’s camp wants clarity and top-tier contention now. Reintegrating him would take careful man-management.

What this means in Mzansi

South African fans treat the Premier League like a second home. Arsenal have one of the largest supporter bases here, which makes the Eze story hit differently. Many remember his Wembley showreel last season and how his style mirrors the flair loved across Mzansi’s football culture. For Spurs fans in SA, this one stings. The question turns to whether the club can pivot fast enough, possibly back to a wide forward or an attacking midfielder who can carry load while Maddison recovers.

The bigger picture

Arsenal have added a pure game-breaker who can feature wide left or as a free-creator between lines. Spurs must reframe their window quickly. Leeds look organised and methodical after promotion. Chelsea are trimming and reshaping a crowded attack. United are trying to solve a short-term path for Højlund without weakening long-term leverage. Newcastle are balancing PSR, ambition and a talisman’s wishes.

It is the Premier League transfer market at its chaotic best, and South African timelines are living for it.

Source:ESPN Africa 

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