As Ebere Eze turns 25-years-old today, it’s time to look back at some of his special moments in a Palace shirt – and there have been plenty.
The England international – how good does that sound? – signed for the Eagles in 2020 from Queens Park Rangers and hit the ground running, starring in his first season before a cruel injury blow kept him out for months on end.
After his return he reminded the Premier League of his quality and ended the season in flying form, earning an England call-up in the process and making his debut against Malta in June.
Here are some of his best moments in a Palace shirt…
It’s some way to score your first goal for a new club. After a promising start for the Eagles, Eze had yet to find the back of the net before a barnstorming display against Leeds United at Selhurst Park.
Lining up a free-kick from 25-yards out, he sent a ferocious dipping effort over the wall, off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.
Have some of that.
Lockdown football was a bleak affair, and Sheffield United’s visit to Selhurst Park on a cold January afternoon looked to be another understated occasion.
That was before Ebere Eze stepped up to lift the doom and gloom, lighting up south London with a very special effort indeed.
Receiving the ball inside his own half, he stepped inside two defenders and rounded a third, advancing on goal. Taking on two more frantic challenges, he unleashed an early prod into the bottom corner to catch the goalkeeper off guard and bring Palace ahead.
If only there had been fans there to give him the ovation he deserved – you can bet there were celebrations in living rooms across the capital.
He’s only gone and done it again!
That was the reaction in the press box as Eze repeated the feat just a few months later, dancing away from one Sheffield United defender after another before slotting home. He had started inside his own half, but there was no way of stopping him.
Injuries can be so cruel, and it took some mental fortitude for Eze to return after so long out – particularly when his hopes of an England call-up had been dashed in the process.
The long wait explains the sense of jubilation in the away end when he smashed Palace into the lead against Southampton in April 2022.
Eze was back.
OK, this isn’t a goal – but you’ll forgive us for sneaking this one in.
The setting: Anfield. A warm August evening as the Eagles take on the beaten European Cup finalists, and the ball is dropping from a great height towards the away side’s No. 10.
With one touch he brought it under control, with a second he danced around the defender. Looking up, he saw the run of Wilfried Zaha and rolled an inch-perfect ball towards goal, which his teammate duly finished with aplomb.
It was an Eze-assist-special.
It’s not all finesse – he can strike them too.
Away at Southampton Eze made that abundantly clear, putting the Saints to the sword once again. Having already given Palace the lead, he swivelled away from two defenders 30-yards out and picked out the bottom corner.
Three points secured, and an England call-up awaits…
We know we said 'five' – but the Bournemouth brace was surely too good to omit.
Take your pick from a supreme team goal in which every player touched the ball in the build-up – or that long-distance pass, touch and finish.
