Crystal Palace and Arsenal have reportedly successfully negotiated a deal for the permanent transfer of striker Eddie Nketiah. The 25-year-old forward, who originally joined Arsenal’s academy in 2015, has now found himself deemed surplus to requirements under the management of Mikel Arteta. Despite spending his entire career with the Gunners, aside from a brief loan stint at Leeds United during the 2019-2020 campaign, Nketiah is now eager to seek out a fresh opportunity that provides him with more regular playing time.
Nketiah’s impressive performances at a youth level, notching up 46 goals in 60 appearances, saw him rise through the ranks at Arsenal. However, his first-team opportunities have decreased recently, as he only started 10 of his 27 Premier League appearances last season, falling behind other attacking options like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in the pecking order.
With three years still remaining on his contract at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal has signaled their willingness to facilitate Nketiah’s departure if the right price is met. After previously attracting interest from clubs like Marseille and Bournemouth, Crystal Palace has now emerged as the front runners in securing his services. Reports suggest that Palace have agreed with Arsenal on a £25 million deal plus £5 million in potential add-ons for Nketiah. The striker is said to have agreed to the move and is set to undergo medical examinations before the transfer is officially completed.
Nketiah’s impending departure from Arsenal signifies the continuing exodus of their Hale End academy graduates this summer, following the exits of Emile Smith Rowe and Charlie Patino to Fulham and Deportivo La Coruna respectively. With Nketiah’s departure on the horizon, there are speculations that Arsenal may look to sign a new center-forward in the remaining days of the transfer window, especially with Jesus recently nursing an injury.
Upon completing the move to Selhurst Park, Nketiah will become Palace’s fourth signing of the summer transfer window, following in the footsteps of Daichi Kamada, Chadi Riad, and Ismaila Sarr. He is anticipated to battle it out with Jean-Philippe Mateta for a starting spot up front under the guidance of manager Oliver Glasner. Uncertainty surrounds the future of current striker Odsonne Edouard, with a potential return to Celtic being discussed.
Palace, who finished 10th in the Premier League last season, have had a challenging start in the current campaign. With defeats in their opening two matches against Brentford and West Ham United, the addition of Nketiah could provide a much-needed boost to their attacking options. As Palace aims to climb up the standings, Nketiah’s arrival could play a crucial role in their attempts to improve upon the previous season’s performance.
