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Eddie Nketiah discloses reason he left Arsenal in summer transfer window
Eddie Nketiah has opened up about his decision to leave his boyhood club Arsenal during the summer transfer window, citing the need for more regular playing time as the main reason.
After joining Arsenal in 2015 and progressing through the youth ranks to the first team, Nketiah made his debut in a Europa League match against BATE Borisov.
Despite his early promise, the forward found himself primarily used as a backup option under manager Mikel Arteta in his later years at the club. In the 2023/24 season, 17 of his 27 Premier League appearances were from the bench, limiting his opportunities to make a significant impact.
Recognizing the need for more consistent minutes, Nketiah opted to leave Arsenal and signed with Crystal Palace in a deal reportedly worth £30 million.
In an interview with “The Independent,” he explained that his desire for regular game time was the driving force behind his move.
“I have a real belief in myself as a player, and I think I just needed to go somewhere I felt I would have opportunities to be on the pitch and improve,” said Nketiah.
“I know it’s not always going to click straight away, but everyone needs a platform to progress, trial and error on the pitch to learn. That was the main reason behind leaving Arsenal.
“Obviously Arsenal are challenging for the league and Palace will be in a different situation, but we’ve got a lot of talented players and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have aspirations to keep climbing up the table.
“I think it’s a great project here. It’s a different project, but it’s definitely a great project that will allow me a platform to showcase my talents.”
Nketiah’s move to Crystal Palace offers him a fresh start and the chance to establish himself as a key player, something that had become increasingly difficult during his time at Arsenal.