Ex-QPR owner Tony Fernandes sends Eberechi Eze message after Crystal Palace FA Cup win | OneFootball

The former R's owner shared a heart-warming message to the former QPR star after his FA Cup final heroics for Crystal Palace.

Former QPR owner Tony Fernandes has sent a congratulatory message to Eberechi Eze after Crystal Palace's FA Cup win over Manchester City.

Saturday 17 May, 2025 is a day that will live long in the memories of Crystal Palace fans everywhere, as Oliver Glasner's side beat Pep Guardiola's silverware stalwarts by a goal to nil in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.

The Eagles player who will always have the honour of scoring the goal that officially declared the club's trophy cabinet open? That would be former QPR man Eberechi Eze.

Indeed, it would be the England international's 16th-minute strike that would determine the outcome of the game, and forever write himself into Palace folklore as a result.

"One of our own" - Ex-QPR owner Tony Fernandes sends Eberechi Eze message

Posting via Instagram on 19 May, former QPR owner Tony Fernandes sent the former R's midfielder a heart-warming message of congratulations following his FA Cup glory with Crystal Palace.

Fernandes wrote: "What a fantastic day. Caught up with the greatest and most humble footballer I have ever known.

"More great things on his way. More power to you my brother. @eze. What a goal for @cpfc and congrats to all Palace fans on the great win.

Eberechi Eze remains one of QPR's greatest transfer finds

Having bounced around numerous clubs' academy systems, such as Arsenal, Fulham, Millwall and Reading, Eze finally found a permanent home with QPR in 2016.

Signed on an initial one-year contract ahead of the 2016/17 season, Eze would have to show a trait he'd always possessed: patience, before being handed his big break at Loftus Road.

After making his professional debut in January 2017, the attacking midfielder would spend the first half of the 2017/18 season on loan at Wycombe Wanderers in League Two, where he would bag five goals and one assist in 20 league appearances for the Chairboys.

Following the expiration of that loan deal, Eze soon established himself as a first-team regular with the Hoops, and he was quick to show them, and the watching eyes of previous talent evaluators, just the kind of ability he possessed.

When it was time for him to move on in August 2020, he'd ended his QPR career having made over 100 appearances and 20 goals to his name, as well as 11 assists.

Selhurst Park would be his destination, as Crystal Palace invested £19.5m incredibly wisely into the capture of his signature - a fee he has now repaid many times over.

Since then, Eze has become an established England international, and has taken his game to another level, becoming one of the Premier League's best attacking midfielders as he moves into the prime years of his career.

QPR will always have a fond place in his heart though, as they were the club to hand him his first chance in senior football, and he rewarded them with a huge payday and some wonderful memories for R's fans along the way.

Fernandes is right, Eze will always be one of QPR's own.