On Saturday, Eberechi Eze will walk out onto the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup final, representing Crystal Palace in a clash against Manchester City. It’s a moment that marks the pinnacle of a career shaped by rejection, unwavering determination, and deep faith.
Now 26 and a key figure for both Crystal Palace and the England national team, Eze’s path to the top of English football was anything but smooth. Raised on a council estate in Greenwich, south-east London, his early years were filled with disappointment. Arsenal released him at 13. Fulham, Reading, Millwall—all said no. Trials at Bristol City and Sunderland went nowhere.
“I remember facing Arsenal a few months after being released by them,” Eze recalled. “I had tears ready to pour down my face. I didn’t know how to process the emotions.”
By the age of 18, Eze had seen more closed doors than most players do in a lifetime. Millwall, the last of many clubs to reject him, ended his two-year scholarship without offering a professional contract. A final unsuccessful trial at Sunderland left his confidence shattered.
But then came Queens Park Rangers. They offered him a lifeline, and Eze seized it. Within two years, he was a first-team regular. In 2020, he earned a £19.5 million move to Crystal Palace—a meteoric rise from non-league obscurity to Premier League star.
Saturday’s final represents more than just silverware. For Eze, it’s a moment of personal vindication. A symbol of what can happen when talent meets faith and persistence.
“I know so many people who got released once and gave up,” said Eze. “But I never let go of my love for football. I just kept asking, ‘What’s next?’ After every setback, it was about moving forward.”
He credits his Christian upbringing with giving him strength during those trying times. “I could be anywhere doing anything, but God placed me here,” he said. “I haven’t been given anything. All I have is from working hard and the grace of God.”
Eze’s statistics this season speak volumes: seven goals and eight assists in the Premier League, and three crucial goals in the FA Cup—including a stunning long-range strike that helped sink Aston Villa in the semi-finals.
Off the pitch, Eze remains grounded and connected to his roots. He recently reunited with the local mentors, Gabriel and Rafael, who taught him how to play football in a Greenwich cage. “They showed me all the skills,” he said. “I owe so much to them.”
His impact goes beyond goals and assists. Lisa Shaw, his former primary school teacher, described how he invited children from his old school to watch Palace train—sending a fleet of cars to pick them up. “He’s never forgotten where he came from,” she said. “He’s a fantastic role model.”
Those closest to him, like younger brother Chimaechi—who plays for Palace’s U21s—view him as an inspiration. “If I went through what he did, I don’t know if I could continue,” he said. “He’s shown us all that you can change your story.”
As the final looms, fans will be hoping for another moment of magic from Eze—perhaps another wonder goal like the one that sent Palace to Wembley.
“He felt peace when that goal went in,” said childhood friend Dajon Golding. “Words can’t describe how proud I am of him.”
From being rejected by club after club, to leading his team into a major final, Eberechi Eze’s story is one of resilience, faith, and the power of never giving up.
