Arsenal complete club-record £105 million Declan Rice signing from Premier League rivals West Ham
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 15/07/2023 at 13:41 GMT
One of the summer's longest-running transfer sagas has come to an end with West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice moving to Arsenal for a club record £105 million fee. Rice has signed a long-term deal as he makes the decision to stay in London with Mikel Arteta's side. Manchester City were also keen to sign the player earlier in the summer but pulled out of a prospective deal.
Auckland officially start off WWC celebrations with Powhiri ceremony
Declan Rice has sealed a £105 million move to Arsenal making him the club's most expensive signing.
The now former West Ham midfielder has been the subject of one of the summer's most discussed transfers, and the saga is at an end after he agreed to join Mikel Arteta's Gunners.
Rice, 24, has signed a long-term contract as he continues his footballing career in London.
Manager Arteta said: “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.”
The player himself added: "I’ve been looking at Arsenal over the last couple of seasons and the trajectory they’ve been going on. Not last season but the season before, they finished fifth but you could see the style of play Mikel was implementing.
"Last season was an outstanding season, blowing pretty much every team out of the water with the exception of Man City.
"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. I know the fans really want that.
"For me as a player, I’ve come here really hungry to have more success and to spend my best years at this great club."
Arsenal and Arteta had a long-standing interest in Rice and made him their number one summer transfer target.
Despite the Hammers accepting they would have to sell, they were determined to get the best price for their captain, initially rejecting bids of £80m and £90m.
Premier League champions Manchester City also entered the race for the player but pulled their interest due to a combination of the fee and the fact Rice seemed determined to join the Gunners.
The structured £105 million transfer fee surpasses the Arsenal's previous record transfer when they paid £72 million to Lille for winger Nicolas Pepe in 2019.
Rice joins Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber who have also moved to the Emirates this summer.
Rice began his football journey as part of Chelsea's academy before being released at 14, moving across London to West Ham.
He made his full debut in 2017 aged 18 and soon established himself as a first team regular.
The player was named club captain in 2022 and led them to a first trophy in 43 years as the Hammers lifted the Europa Conference League last season.
"This Club and its supporters will always be in my heart, and forever a part of who I am," Rice wrote in his farewell message to the club. "What we shared together in Prague last month, and in the celebrations that followed at Upton Park and Stratford the next day, will never, ever be forgotten.
He added: "Thank you to everyone here who has contributed to my journey along the way."
Rice made 245 total appearances for West Ham over seven seasons, scoring 15 goals.
He currently has 43 caps for England, with three goals.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement