MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-1 during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Crystal Palace FC at Etihad Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Eberechi Eze transfer release clause revealed amid Aston Villa links..
Aston Villa have been credited with an interest in Crystal Palace playmaker and England international Eberechi Eze this summer..
Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has reportedly expressed a desire to complete a move away from Selhurst Park in the forthcoming summer transfer window – and any interested club, with Aston Villa listed as a suitor, could sign the playmaker for £68m.
Eze, 26, has enjoyed an excellent campaign for the Eagles under Oliver Glasner and has helped guide them to the FA Cup final, where they’ll face Manchester City at Wembley later this month – Palace being there is, of course, at the expense of Villa who were well beaten 3-0 in the semi-final, in which Eze scored the opening goal.
The England international has been at Palace since 2020, and he has racked up 64 goal contributions in 163 appearances in that time. This term has proved to be extremely productive, with Eze having scored ten goals and produced 11 assists in 39 outings.
READ MORE: Aston Villa could grant relegated midfielder his wish but face familiar transfer rivals
READ MORE: Dibling, Delap, Vardy – The players Aston Villa can give Premier League lifeline to
There are reports that Eze, who cost Palace £17m when he joined from Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers,
has a release clause of £68m and is eager to leave the club this summer in order to secure European football next term – something Palace, of course, could offer him if they lift the FA Cup on Saturday week.
Palace chairman Steve Parish couldn’t believe the lack of interest in Eze, who has two years remaining on his contract with the South London club, before the season began, while the transfer window was still open.
“I was really worried from a club point of view of losing Michael [Olise] and Ebbs [Eze] in the same window and we didn’t have in Ebbs the interest that I thought we would have,” Parish said last summer. “I was astounded. Genuinely astounded. I mean, the guy’s just an outstanding footballer, an outstanding person.”
What is Villa’s priority in the summer window? Tell us HERE
Everyday, the BirminghamLive football desk strive to deliver all manner of news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Aston Villa content.
Our dedicated reporter John Townley – who you can follow on X by clicking here – follows Villa home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.
So much happens day to day and sometimes you can struggle to keep on top of the very latest updates as and when they occur – that’s why we have produced a daily newsletter which you can sign up to, for free, and which means you’ll have a round-up of the key stories land in your email inbox. Sign up to the Villa newsletter here.
Eberechi Eze’s Penalty for Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Sparks Debate..
Premier League viewers have claimed that Eberechi Eze’s penalty against Nottingham Forest was “illegal” and should have been disallowed during Crystal Palace’s 1-1 draw with the Tricky Trees on Monday night. The result dealt a blow to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side’s pursuit of Champions League football next season, with Forest slipping to sixth place following the weekend’s drama.
Murillo’s goal, just four minutes after Palace’s main creative force had opened the scoring, wasn’t enough for Forest to claim all three points at Selhurst Park. With Chelsea and Newcastle now in pole position to secure qualification for Europe’s top competition next season, the East Midlands club can ill-afford to drop any more points in their remaining three fixtures – against Leicester City, West Ham, and a high-stakes final-day clash with the Blues.
However, fans from both sides – as well as neutrals – were quick to criticise Eze’s unorthodox penalty technique, joking that it should have been disallowed purely for how strange and awkward it looked. Others, meanwhile, believe they’ve found legitimate grounds for why the goal shouldn’t have stood.
10worstpenalties
Related
10 Worst Penalties in Football History [Ranked]
Ademola Lookman has come under some flak for his penalty misses, but it’s not his recent one that makes the grade in this list.
Eberechi Eze’s Penalty Run-Up Mocked by Viewers
The Englishman was lucky to get away with his unnecessarily fancy run-up
eberechi Eze penalty
Gone are the days when a penalty was a golden ticket to scoring a goal. These days, players seem to try every trick in the book to make the 12-yard attempt look flashier and more skilful than it needs to be. Eze is known for his graceful, showman-like style on the pitch – but his penalty on Monday night bordered on the ridiculous. Watch his opener below (around 1:58):
He got away with his fancy, stop-start technique this time, but his decision to be so showy certainly sparked debate on social media. And while much of the criticism pointed at him was in jest, some fans genuinely started to question whether the goal should have counted after they pointed out the 26-year-old may have fully stopped and even taken a step back.
“No way that Eze penalty is legal. He takes a backward step in his run-up. Shouldn’t have counted that,” one X user wrote, while a second continued: “I know we all wanted that penalty, but I’m not sure how Eze is allowed to take them like that. He does just stop, he actually steps backwards also. It’s an illegal penalty isn’t it?”
Hang on, doesn’t Eze go backwards halfway through his run up? Surely that’s not allowed? Thought you had to keep moving forward once your run up had started? — Barnes (@ThisIsCMBarnes) May 5, 2025
According to Premier League and IFAB (International Football Association Board) rules, a player taking a penalty is allowed to use a stutter or feint during the run-up, but they must not stop completely once the run-up is in motion.
The final movement before striking the ball must be continuous, and excessive deception after completing the run-up – such as pausing right before the kick – is not allowed and could result in an indirect free kick to the defending team.
About The Author
