Ebere Eze moves like no one else. Gliding past defenders with ease, playing with rhythm, instinct, and fearlessness, he’s become one of the most electrifying talents in the game. It’s an attitude that makes him the perfect face for New Balance’s Furon v8 – a boot engineered for fast, expressive players who shape the game on their own terms.

But Eze is more than just an entertainer. Beneath the highlight-reel moments and signature five-star skills is a grounded, thoughtful individual driven by faith, family, and a desire to give back. Earlier this year, he scored his first goal for England – a long-awaited milestone that felt like both a culmination and a new beginning for a baller who’s never taken a shortcut on his journey.

Now, as he steps into a new chapter – on and off the pitch – Eze continues to balance ambition with humility. He plays with joy, lives with purpose, and moves with intention. Whether it’s the boots on his feet or the values he carries, everything about him points in one direction: forward.

We sat down with Eze at the launch of New Balance’s Furon v8 ‘Energy Rush’ in East London to talk about identity, faith, perseverance – and the little things that make a big difference.

We know you enjoy yourself on the pitch—but what brings you the most joy out there?

Easy. Scoring goals. Winning. Nutmegging someone. That’s the dream. That’s what I live for on the pitch.

Your journey hasn’t been straightforward – it’s taken perseverance and serious work. When things got tough, how did you keep going?

It’s been tough, yeah. But giving up has never crossed my mind. What keeps me going is my love for football, first and foremost. And I also believe this gift I’ve got, it comes from God. So there’s a responsibility to honour it, to keep going, and to make the most of it.

I trust that even when things are difficult, it’s all part of the journey. Life’s about riding those waves and trusting that better days are ahead.

The Eze Foundation is doing incredible work. You’re all about giving back. If you could give young people one piece of advice, what would it be?

I’d tell them to enjoy where they are right now. Whatever phase of life you’re in—whether it’s a struggle or a high—embrace it. Don’t always look to the next thing. It’s easy to get caught up chasing the future, but if you’re not careful, you miss the moment you’re in.

There will be new challenges, new levels to reach, but if you don’t learn to enjoy now, you’ll spend your whole life looking forward and never being present. That’s something I’m really learning myself.

‍‍The New Balance Furon v8 'Energy Rush' is available now from New Balance.

VERSUS: Let’s start with where it all began. South London – what does that place mean to you?

Ebere Eze: There’s a massive sense of pride in coming from South London. I know what it’s like growing up there—the challenges, the different experiences. To make something of yourself from that kind of background, it means a lot. It’s special to me, and to my family too. That’s why I think we’ve always had this mindset of giving back whenever we can.

And that’s something people notice about you straight away – how deeply rooted you are in your community. Why does that mean so much to you?

First, I’d say it comes from my faith – my relationship with Christ. There’s something in that that compels you to give back, to support people who might not have as much. And also, I’ve been there. I know what it’s like not to have. So I can empathise in a real way.

Then there’s my family – I was raised in a home where being generous, sharing, and supporting others was just the norm. So those three things – faith, background, and family – that’s where it all comes from.

Let’s talk about the boots, the Furon v8. You’re known for your quick feet, and these new boots are built for speed. What does having that edge mean to you?

In football, you're always looking for any kind of advantage – whether it’s mental, physical, tactical. So if you’ve got a boot that feels good, that helps you do what you need to on the pitch, that’s everything. It’s about those marginal gains—any small edge you can get, you take it.‍

The boots also have a distinct look. Your style stands out – your hair, the earring, the way you carry yourself. How important is expressing your identity on the pitch?

It’s important, but not in a forced way. I’m not trying to stand out just for the sake of being different. I just do what I like, what feels right to me. So yeah, I think the way I express myself is just a natural part of who I am. That alone makes it unique. I don’t overthink it.