Official: Crystal Palace Release Chimaechi Eze, Younger Brother of First-Team Star Eberechi Eze
Crystal Palace have officially parted ways with Chimaechi Eze, the younger brother of senior team standout Eberechi Eze, as part of the club’s 2024/25 end-of-season squad review. The 22-year-old forward is among a group of 17 academy players released by the Premier League side, according to the club’s recent update.
Chimaechi initially signed for Palace at the beginning of the 2023/24 season after catching the eye during a successful trial period. Expectations were high for the young attacker, who arrived with a strong footballing pedigree and hopes of following in the footsteps of his older brother.
A Promising Start That Faded Over Time
Operating mainly as an attacking midfielder or second striker, Chimaechi impressed the club’s youth coaches early on with his creativity, technical ability, and eye for goal. His most memorable moment in a Palace shirt came during preseason, when he netted a stunning strike against Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS NEXT Pro Invitational, showcasing the kind of flair and instinct that had initially earned him his contract.
Despite that early spark, Chimaechi struggled to establish himself as a consistent presence in the U21 setup. Throughout the campaign, he made only two appearances, featuring in both the EFL Trophy and Premier League 2, but failed to register either a goal or an assist. His limited game time reflected the intense competition for places within the development squad and perhaps a mismatch between his potential and the club’s evolving needs.
International Eligibility and Career Outlook
Born in England, Chimaechi—like his brother—holds dual eligibility to represent both England and Nigeria at the international level. While Eberechi eventually committed his future to the Three Lions, Chimaechi’s path remains open, though he is yet to feature for either nation’s youth setups.
With his departure from Selhurst Park now confirmed, Chimaechi becomes a free agent heading into the summer transfer window. At just 22, he still has time on his side and will now focus on finding a new club where he can restart his career and get the regular playing time needed to develop and thrive.
Scouts across lower-tier English leagues and clubs abroad will likely be monitoring his situation, especially given the flashes of talent he’s demonstrated and his connection to one of England’s most exciting attacking midfielders. The coming weeks could be pivotal in determining whether Chimaechi can carve out his own name in professional football.
For now, Crystal Palace have closed the chapter on Chimaechi’s time at the club—but for the young forward, the next page is just beginning to turn.