Having been at the academies of all four sides, it was at QPR where Eberechi Eze was given his opportunity.
Eberechi Eze is an English midfielder who has played for Queens Park Rangers since 2017 and has never looked back.
Many would have assumed that his 2020 move to Crystal Palace, where he paid a fee of £16 million plus add-ons, would be the pinnacle of his career.
However, as the summer transfer window draws near, some of the best teams in the Premier League are showing an increasing amount of interest in Eze, and his former team, QPR, may be in line for a sizable payday.
Arsenal, Fulham, Millwall and Reading will have regret over Eze decision.
There is a single thing that unites these four sides.
They once had number 10 for Crystal Palace on their books, but they decided to let him go because they didn’t think he was good enough to be signed to a professional contract down the road.
Given his current skill set, Millwall and Arsenal should be the ones feeling the most regret for what seemed like a strange choice after only a few years at Reading and Fulham.
Released by the Gunners at just 13-years-of-age, Eze said this to the Daily Mail on how it shaped his career: “Looking back at it now, that’s the start of my journey, and I’m grateful to God that’s how it went.
“If it weren’t for that, I might not have had the bravery and resiliency to go and be who I want to be somewhere else,” he continued. I am who I am today because of it.”
After his stints at the other three clubs, it appeared he would get the chance he required at Millwall.
Coaches at the club were impressed by his rapid rise through the under-18’s and reserve side as a scholar. Yet, according to Justin Skinner, the young player’s manager, his failure to play a “defined” role for the Lions cost him a professional contract.
After countless rejections, Eze finally got lucky and was offered a contract by QPR, giving him his first opportunity to show off his skills in men’s football.
| Eberechi Eze’s Youth Career | |
|---|---|
| Youth Teams | Years |
| Arsenal | 2006-2011 |
| Fulham | 2011-2013 |
| Reading | 2014 |
| Millwall | 2014-2016 |
A star for QPR and Crystal Palace
It turned out to be a tremendous error for those clubs to decide to reject him.
He dominated the Championship at QPR, contributing significantly over the course of two seasons with 18 goals and 8 assists.
He then made the big move across the capital to Premier League Palace, and since then, he has continued to advance, earning his first England cap under Gareth Southgate and scoring 22 goals in 119 games.
Fans of the Houston Rockets will be hoping that the midfielder, who is valued at £16 million, can continue to produce impressive performances at Selhurst Park and Wembley.
QPR anticipates a large Eze sale.
QPR has already made a tidy £16 million on the Eagles number 10, but the previously mentioned clause in the deal could provide another massive financial boost this summer.
According to reports from the Sun, this could cost as much as £70 million, with Manchester City and Tottenham reportedly highly interested in signing him.
Should the player be sold for this sum, Crystal Palace would have secured a record deal that surpasses the £50 million they obtained for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Of that £70 million, however, £14 million would end up in the Hoops’ coffers—another cunning move by the West Londoners.
In actuality, no one could have predicted the turn of events that brought Eze to QPR.
He is currently enjoying financial success thanks to the team that gave him an opportunity to play professional football, and they will be grateful that they were the ones to recognize his potential.
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