In what is a milestone moment for English football, Arsenal is set to secure the services of West Ham's Declan Rice for a staggering £105m, setting a new British record for player transfers. This significant deal surpasses Arsenal's previous transfer record of £72m paid for Nicolas Pepe in 2019.
According to reliable sources, the two teams have hammered out an agreement in principle. The deal, however, is predicated upon the satisfactory conclusion of the payment structure's finer details, which are yet to be fully resolved. Although the initial proposal was to spread a guaranteed £100m over three years, West Ham insisted on a two-year payment structure.
Rice, who led West Ham to the Europa Conference League title and has been a key figure in the team since his debut season in 2017-18, will now discuss personal terms and prepare for a medical examination. In addition to his exploits at the club level, Rice has represented England 41 times since his international debut in 2019.
The 24-year-old midfielder had expressed a preference for Arsenal despite a competitive offer of a £90m package from reigning Premier League and European champions, Manchester City. Arsenal's determination to acquire Rice was evident in their persistence, having had two prior offers rejected before landing the successful bid.
With this acquisition, Arsenal's summer spending is expected to exceed £200m. This comes after a deal for Kai Havertz was allegedly leaked, and Ajax agreed to lower the price for Jurrien Timber. Arsenal's substantial investment is a clear testament to their commitment to excel in the upcoming Champions League season - their first appearance since the 2016/17 campaign.
The announcement has been met with mixed reactions, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville expressing skepticism about the valuation. He said, "I love Declan Rice... [but] I wouldn't be spending £110m or £120m... I would spend £50m-£60m on Declan Rice." Nevertheless, the Gunners' manager, Mikel Arteta, appears confident that Rice is the missing piece in the puzzle to bolster their midfield alongside Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, and Martin Odegaard.
David Sullivan, the Hammers' chairman, shared that a gentleman's agreement made Rice's departure possible, despite the player having a year remaining on his contract. As Arsenal prepares to welcome Rice, the shift illustrates a clear and ambitious direction for the club as they ready themselves for the next competitive season.
