Scouting Report: Eberechi Eze

At 21 years old, Eberechi Eze is standing out as one of the most exciting talents in the Championship, but three years ago, his football career looked destined to crash and burn. After being released by Millwall in 2016 and failing to impress in trials with Arsenal, Reading and Fulham, Eze took a part-time job at Tesco while simultaneously studying in college.

However, he quickly bounced back, convincing Queens Park Rangers technical director Chris Ramsey to sign him on August 3, 2016. He would make just one appearance for QPR that season, an FA Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers, before heading out on loan the following summer to League Two side Wycombe Wanderers. Eze went on to impress for the Chairboys, scoring five goals in 20 games. His sensational form caused QPR to not extend his loan and instead bring him into the first team picture in January.

Upon his return to West London, he became a regular under Ian Holloway, and when Holloway left his managerial post in the summer, his replacement Steve McClaren handed him the #10 shirt. Since then, Eze has stole the show at Loftus Road, and with 12 goals and 8 assists in all appearances this season, he's already emerged into the chief playmaker and executioner for QPR, combining his lethal eye for goal with his creative flair.

Eze is fairly similar to Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish in the sense that he operates on the left-hand side, behind the striker, albeit not as a conventional winger. However, like Grealish, his is also skilled as a #10, where he was deployed last season under McClaren. Eze’s versatility will stand him in good stead throughout his career, as he’s proven that he can operate pretty much anywhere behind the striker.