EBERECHI EZE revealed how watching Wilfried Zaha helped spur him to the top after sealing his Crystal Palace move.
Playmaker Eze, 22, last night joined the Eagles from Championship side QPR in a deal worth up to £19.5million.
Eberechi Eze says he’s delighted to be at the same club as Wilfried ZahaCredit: Rex Features
The south Londoner now hopes to emulate the likes of Zaha and Yannick Bolasie — years after being inspired by them observing from the sidelines.
Eze said: “I remember watching Bolasie and Zaha in the Championship and just thinking ‘That’s where you want to be, that’s the goal.’
“It’s a great opportunity for me to come and show what I’m about and follow in their steps.”
Palace saw off competition from the likes of West Brom to sign Eze, who put pen to paper on a five-year contract.
The transfer is understood to be a £16m fee broken up into two instalments, with a further £3.5m in add-ons as well as a sell-on clause.
And Eze explained it was Palace’s vision for where he would fit in and his future that convinced him to join.
The England Under-21 star added: “The deal definitely shows their belief in me and I want to be here.
“I want to to do as well as I can for this club and it’s a brilliant opportunity.
Zaha has been linked with a move away from Palace this summerCredit: Rex Features
“It was the plan that was set out for me and what they have said about me and it’s the most in-line with what I feel about myself.
“For me, that’s the most important thing — more than ‘what the club is’ or whatever.
“It’s the position they want me to play, their goals, where they want to be, what they want to become, how they see me fitting in that system.
“The style of football they want to play suits me. It’s perfect for me. It’s a great place to come.”
Eze becomes Palace’s second summer signing following the arrival of right-back Nathan Ferguson, 19, from West Brom.
Boss Roy Hodgson said: “We are assembling the pieces of our jigsaw with regard to bringing in some fresh, young players who will provide quality and energy.
“Eberechi is an ambitious and dedicated young man whose future looks extremely bright.”
Crystal Palace complete £15m transfer for QPR ace Eberechi Eze after beating Premier League rivals to the attacker
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
