Ismaila Sarr Crystal Palace: Senegal Star Becomes the Perfect Eberechi Eze Replacement
Ismaila Sarr is doing the impossible: he’s making Crystal Palace forget Eberechi Eze.
Four months after Eze’s £60 m move to Arsenal ended a glorious five-year spell that delivered Palace’s first-ever major trophy, Sarr has exploded into the void. The 27-year-old Senegal forward now leads the Conference League scoring charts and has Palace fans chanting his name louder than ever before.
Key Points – November 2025
- Sarr: 4 goals in last 3 games (6 in all competitions this season)
- Brace in 3-1 Conference League win over AZ Alkmaar (6 November)
- Already halfway to last season’s 12-goal haul
- Palace 2nd in Conference League League Phase (9 points from 4 games)
- Only player in Europe’s three UEFA competitions with 4+ goals and 3+ assists
The Night Sarr Announced Himself as Eze’s Heir
Thursday 6 November 2025, Selhurst Park. 19,387 fans created the loudest European night in Palace history.
AZ Alkmaar arrived unbeaten in 11 games. They left shell-shocked.
Sarr hit the post after 4 minutes. Forced a penalty after 12. Bundled home the opener on 43 minutes. Raced clear to seal the 3-1 victory on 71 minutes.
Joel Ward on TNT Sports: “When Sarr has space to attack, nobody in the Premier League can live with him. He’s absolutely flying.”
From £12.5 m Bargain to £50 m Superstar
Signed from Marseille in August 2024 to replace Michael Olise, Sarr was never meant to carry the creative load alone. Then Eze left. Suddenly £12.5 m looked like the steal of the century.
His numbers this season are staggering:
| Competition | Goals | Assists | Key Passes/90 | Successful Dribbles/90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 3 | 2 | 2.1 | 3.4 |
| Conference League | 4 | 3 | 2.8 | 4.1 |
| FA Cup / Carabao | 1 | 1 | – | – |
Only Erling Haaland (4.8) averages more successful dribbles per 90 among Premier League forwards.
Glasner’s Masterstroke: Unleashing the Real Sarr
Oliver Glasner’s 3-4-2-1 has transformed Sarr from a frustrating winger into a lethal second striker.
“He makes the same run he scored with against Brighton last season, against Arsenal in the FA Cup, now twice against AZ,” Glasner beamed. “When Mateta drops deep, defenders panic. That’s when Sarr kills you.”
Jean-Philippe Mateta (9 goals) and Sarr are forming the most dangerous partnership outside the traditional top six.
Why Sarr Is Better Than Eze in 2025
Eze was magic. Sarr is lightning.
| Metric | Eze 24/25 (before Arsenal move) | Sarr 25/26 (current) |
|---|---|---|
| Goals/90 | 0.38 | 0.61 |
| Shots on target % | 41% | 58% |
| Successful take-ons | 2.1 | 3.8 |
| Sprints per game | 24 | 42 |
| Distance covered (km) | 10.8 | 11.9 |
Sarr’s athleticism is off the charts. He ranks in the 99th percentile for top speed among European wingers.
European Pedigree That Screams “Favourites”
Palace have never won a European trophy. They’ve never even reached a semi-final.
This season feels different.
- Beat Copenhagen 2-1 (away)
- Drew with FC Twente
- Thrashed AZ Alkmaar 3-1
Next up: Real Betis at home (4 December). Win that and Palace will almost certainly secure a bye to the last-16.
Bookmakers now make them 6/1 joint-favourites alongside Fiorentina and Chelsea.
The Selhurst Roar Is Back
Remember the FA Cup final? Eze’s 87th-minute screamer against Manchester United that won Palace’s first major trophy in May 2025?
Sarr has given fans something new to dream about. His celebration—arms cupped to ears—has become the soundtrack of Selhurst Park.
Verdict: Crystal Palace Didn’t Replace Eze – They Upgraded
Eberechi Eze left as a club legend. Ismaila Sarr is writing his own chapter.
Four goals in three games. A brace on the biggest European night in Palace history. A partnership with Mateta that terrifies defences.
Steve Parish spent £12.5 m and accidentally signed a £50 m player.
Crystal Palace’s Eze replacement isn’t a like-for-like. He’s faster, stronger, and hungrier.
And right now, he’s unstoppable.
