Eddie Nketiah was born on 30 May 1999 in Lewisham, south-east London, to Ghanaian parents. He began his development at Chelsea's youth academy after being scouted as a nine-year-old, before joining Arsenal's academy following his release in 2015. He made his senior debut for Arsenal in 2017 and quickly established himself as a reliable squad option, spending a loan spell at Leeds United during their 2019–20 Championship-winning season.
At Arsenal, Nketiah made over 150 appearances and won the FA Cup in 2020, coming off the bench in the final against Chelsea at Wembley. Among his standout individual moments in red and white was a Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield United in October 2023, and a last-minute winner against Manchester United in January 2023. He also holds the record for most goals scored for the England under-21 side, surpassing Alan Shearer's previous mark of 13.
A compact and mobile striker, Nketiah is known for his sharp movement, pace, and clinical finishing in and around the penalty area — qualities that have drawn comparisons to former Arsenal forward Ian Wright.
In August 2024, he joined Crystal Palace for a reported fee of around £30 million, signing a five-year deal. He played a part in Palace's 2025 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, earning his second FA Cup winner's medal. Nketiah made his senior England debut in October 2023 as a substitute in a friendly against Australia.