In a move that has sent shockwaves through the football world, Arsenal Football Club has confirmed the signing of England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham United in a deal worth £100m, with an additional £5m in add-ons. This monumental transfer marks one of the most significant deals in the history of the Premier League, equalling the £100m paid by Manchester City for Jack Grealish in 2021.
Rice, who captained West Ham to the Europa Conference League title last season, expressed his excitement about joining the Gunners. "I've been looking at Arsenal over the last couple of seasons and the trajectory they've been on," he said. "Last season was an outstanding season, blowing pretty much every team out of the water with the exception of Manchester City."
OFFICIAL: Declan Rice joins Arsenal on club record deal for £100m plus £5m in add-ons. ️ #AFC
Rice also becomes the most expensive English player in the history of the game.
Rice will wear number and signs deal valid until June 2028 with option for further season. pic.twitter.com/ai32Q9lvTA — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 15, 2023
The 24-year-old's move to Arsenal comes after a summer-long saga that saw the Gunners and Manchester City vying for his signature. Despite having two bids rejected, Arsenal remained persistent, eventually securing the deal after City withdrew from negotiations.
The signing of Rice is a significant coup for Arsenal, who finished second in the Premier League last season. His arrival follows the recruitment of Germany midfielder Kai Havertz from Chelsea in a £65m deal and Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax for a fee which could rise to £38.5m.
The deal was not without its complications, with both clubs locked in talks about how to structure the payments and iron out the finer details. However, with the final sign-off from the Gunners' camp, the announcement calls time on months of discussions as Arsenal nab their No 1 long-term transfer target.
Rice is set to earn around £250,000-a-week in north London, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta views him as a future captain of the club. Arteta's plan is to deploy Havertz as a No 8 in midfield, with Rice acting as the pivot behind him, allowing Martin Odegaard freedom to push further forward.
Since making his debut at the age of 18 in 2017, Rice has developed into a homegrown hero for the east London club, making it difficult for them to part with him. In total, he racked up 245 appearances, scoring 15 goals.
Rice's departure from West Ham will undoubtedly leave a void in the team, but it also frees up an exorbitant windfall to supercharge the east London club's intentions in the transfer market. West Ham manager David Moyes will now be tasked with using funds generated from the sale of Rice to help flesh out the squad for next season.
As for Arsenal, the club is set to continue its pre-season preparations in America, where they will face MLS All-Stars in Washington, Manchester United in New Jersey, and Barcelona in Los Angeles. With Rice now on board, the Gunners will be hoping to go one better than their second-placed finish in the Premier League last season.
