August 31, (THEWILL) – Arsenal striker, Eddie Nketiah, has completed a permanent transfer to Crystal Palace for an initial fee of £25 million, with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons. The move was finalised on the last day of the Summer 2024 transfer window, ending Nketiah’s long association with the North London club.
Nketiah, who joined Arsenal’s youth setup from Chelsea as a teenager, made his first-team debut in a UEFA Europa League match against BATE Borisov. He went on to make 168 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 38 goals. His most memorable moment came when he scored twice as a substitute in a Carabao Cup victory against Norwich City, finding the net just 15 seconds after coming on.
The striker’s move to Crystal Palace comes after previous transfer attempts fell through. Marseille had shown interest but did not meet Arsenal’s asking price, while personal terms could not be agreed with Bournemouth. Palace emerged as the frontrunners earlier this week, quickly reaching an agreement with both Arsenal and the player.
During his time at Arsenal, Nketiah progressed through the ranks under various managers, including Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery, and Mikel Arteta. He also spent time on loan at Leeds United during their promotion-winning 2019/2020 campaign. Nketiah’s performances for Arsenal led to him earning his first England cap in 2023.
The 24-year-old leaves Arsenal having been part of the club since 2015. He was given the prestigious number 14 shirt in 2022, following in the footsteps of club legend, Thierry Henry. Nketiah’s departure marks the end of an era for the homegrown talent, who will now look to make his mark at Selhurst Park.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
