Arsenal Completes Declan Rice Transfer From West Ham
Arsenal have completed the signing of England international midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham on a five-year deal for a club-record fee of £105m, the club announced.
The deal has the option of a further year and the midfielder will wear the No 41 shirt for the Gunners. His move to the Emirates Stadium brings a decade-long spell at West Ham to an end, rising from a youth-team player to club captain.
Rice’s deal eclipses the £72m Arsenal paid for Ivory Coast international Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019, while it is also a record transfer fee between two British clubs.
A new chapter begins. pic.twitter.com/ha5Btd8I2h
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 15, 2023
“In football, amazing opportunities arise. Big clubs, like Arsenal, have come for me and it’s really hard to turn down,” Rice said.
“You only ever get one career and I really believe in what Mikel is building here and the squad he’s building. I’m really looking forward to the future with Arsenal.”
“With Mikel and how he works, the squad, how young everyone is, the energy around the club and also the challenge of getting Arsenal back to where they belong, that means a lot to me,” he added.
Rice made 245 appearances for West Ham after making his first-team debut in 2017 and his final game for the club saw him lift West Ham’s first trophy in 43 years after they won the Europa Conference League final.
The 24-year-old’s arrival at Arsenal makes him their third summer signing, following the arrival of Kai Havertz from Chelsea and Jurrien Timber from Ajax.
💬 “My ambitions now are to win with Arsenal again. It’s time to go one step bigger and win the Premier League, win the Champions League, and I wouldn’t be here if I did not believe that.” pic.twitter.com/BBXsQOAoqE
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 15, 2023
