Who is Arsenal's new superstar Eberechi Eze?

Before Sunday's north London derby, if we'd asked you to name Arsenal's biggest stars, you might've said Saka, Rice, or Gyökeres.

But after the weekend, there's one name absolutely everyone is talking about: Eberechi Eze.

In his very first season as a Gunner, Eze lit up the derby with a sensational hat-trick against Arsenal's fiercest rivals, Tottenham Hotspur - the kind of performance that instantly turns a player into a club legend.

What makes it worse for Spurs fans is that Eze very nearly signed for Tottenham, before moving to Arsenal in the summer transfer window.

Eberechi Oluchi Eze was born in June 1998 in Greenwich, London, to Nigerian parents.

His football career actually started with Arsenal, the club he has supported since he was a young boy.

He joined the club's youth academy, but was released when he was just 13.

That was a tough moment for him - he has said it was one of the hardest things he ever went through.

"That was the worst one. I remember crying in my room for a solid week, my mum telling me that it's going to be OK but not being able to get over it," he said in an interview with the Independent newspaper in the summer.

After leaving Arsenal, he had short spells in the youth systems of Fulham and Reading, before moving to Millwall where he was released again at the age of 18.

It was at this point that Eze considered a future away from football as he prepared to start a part-time job at Tesco and planned to start college courses.

But then came an opportunity at Queens Park Rangers (QPR).

"I honestly have no idea what I would have done," he added. "I didn't like anything at school. Even P.E. was a drag. When my agent told me I had a trial at QPR I just thought: 'I have to get in'. There was no other option."

Eze celebrates with the FA Cup trophy after his team's victory in the FA Cup Final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City

Eze began making a name for himself at QPR, becoming a key player in the Championship. Known for his dribbling, flair and creativity.

His performances for QPR caught the eye of Crystal Palace, and in 2020 he completed a move to Palace for around £17 million.

Over the next few seasons, he really flourished at Selhurst Park.

He went on to make his England debut in 2023 and scored his first goal earlier this year, in a 3–0 World Cup qualifying win over Latvia at Wembley.

One of his biggest moments came in the 2025 FA Cup final, when he scored the only goal to win the cup for Crystal Palace - their first-ever major trophy.

He also helped the team win the Community Shield soon after.

Return to the Arsenal

In August 2025, Arsenal re-signed Eze in a dramatic move worth £67.5 million. It came as Tottenham had nearly sealed a deal - but Arsenal snuck in, as Eze returned to the club he had supported and played for as a boy.

His hat-trick against Spurs was the first ever scored in a Premier League north London derby.

It was also Eze's first career treble, which made the game even more memorable.

The win leaves Arsenal top of the league six points clear of Chelsea in second place.