Crystal Palace have strengthened their attack by signing Eberechi Eze from Queens Park Rangers in a deal that could rise to £19.5m.
Eze, who scored 14 goals in the Championship last season, has joined Roy Hodgson’s side on a five-year deal after Palace fended off interest from Aston Villa, Fulham, Leeds, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham.
Palace have tracked the 22-year-old forward’s progress heavily over the past 12 months and have long been favourites to sign him. They were not put off after having a £12m bid rejected this month. Palace were determined not to walk away and have met QPR’s demands for an initial £16m plus add-ons.
QPR, who have a 20% sell-on clause, did not want to let Eze go on the cheap. Eze, at his best as a No 10, is one of the best young talents in England. Slaven Bilic wanted to bring him to West Brom following their promotion and David Moyes, West Ham’s manager, made clear his interest when he met Eze’s representatives.
However it is understood West Brom and West Ham never made a serious approach to QPR. West Ham do not have a big budget this summer and the priority for Moyes is improving his back four.
That left Palace as favourites. Eze is their most expensive signing since Hodgson’s appointment in 2017 and a sign of their determination to rejuvenate their squad. Palace have already brought in the exciting 19-year-old right-back Nathan Ferguson after his departure from West Brom.
However Wilfried Zaha remains determined to leave Palace. The 27-year-old winger, who has attracted interest from Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Everton and Monaco in the past, wants to play at a higher level.
West Ham have confirmed Roberto has joined Real Valladolid on a free. The Spanish goalkeeper struggled after moving to the London Stadium last summer and has returned to Spain.