The wait is finally over! Arsenal have confirmed, completed, and announced the signing of midfielder Declan Rice in a deal worth £105 million from West Ham.
Rice’s transfer has smashed transfer records for Arsenal and the Premier League, since he has now become the most expensive player in Arsenal’s history, and the most expensive British player in the Premier League.
Arsenal agreed with West Ham about this transfer over a week ago and the two clubs have been working out the payment structure of the deal and club lawyers looking over the contract’s wording.
Rice has signed a long-term contract with Arsenal that is believed to be five years, keeping him in North London until 2028. He will wear his iconic number 41 shirt.
The 24-year-old England international has made 288 appearances for both West Ham and England national teams; 245 for the Hammers, and 43 caps for the Three Lions. He has scored 15 goals and 13 assists for Hammers.
Arsenal Sporting Director Edu Gasper has described Rice as a player with fantastic ability and that he will add great strength to the squad.
“Declan is a player with fantastic ability and a proven record at both club and international levels. The process of this transfer has been a big team effort with a clear plan, and we are so happy that Declan is joining us.
“Declan is a high-quality, young international player who will add great strength to our squad, fitting so well into our strategy of competing with young talented players at the centre of our club. It’s great that Declan will be joining up with Mikel, our coaches and his new teammates in good time ahead of the new season.” Edu said, as published on Arsenal’s official website arsenal.com.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who has been a great influence over this transfer since it was first reported early this year, said that Rice has been performing at a high level both for club and country and so he will bring undoubted quality to Arsenal.
“We’re really happy that Declan is joining us. He is a player with tremendous ability, who has been performing at a high level in the Premier League and for England for a number of seasons now. Declan is bringing undoubted quality to the club and he is an exceptional talent who has the potential to be very successful here.
“Declan has great experience in the Premier League at only 24 years old. He has captained a very good West Ham team and as we all saw, he recently lifted a European trophy. The responsibility and role he has taken on has been very impressive and we are really excited that he is joining us.” Arteta said.
Profile
Declan Rice, born on January 14, 1999, in Kingston upon Thames, England, started his youth career at Chelsea, before joining the West Ham Academy in 2014. He signed his first professional contract a year later.
On the final day of the 2016/17 season, an 18-year-old Declan made his senior debut and soon became an integral part of their first-team squad for the following six seasons.
He was named club captain in May 2022 and went on to lead the Hammers to their first-ever European trophy since 1965, the Europa Conference League title last month. He was subsequently named the tournament’s Player of the Season by UEFA.
A regular with the England national team, Rice featured at both Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
