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Arsenal complete £105m signing of Rice from West Ham

You are currently viewing Arsenal complete £105m signing of Rice from West Ham
  • Post published:July 16, 2023

Declan Rice became Britain’s most expensive player following his £105 million move from West Ham United to Arsenal.

Rice’s huge transfer broke the record of £100 million that Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish in 2021. This is part of Arsenal’s ongoing spending spree to try to win the Premier League title next season.

In a letter to West Ham fans, the 24-year-old said that he joined Arsenal because he wanted to play at the “very highest level.”

Rice’s move to the Emirates Stadium on a long-term deal comes just a few months after he won West Ham’s first major trophy since 1980 by beating Fiorentina in the Europa League final.

Rice has moved to the other side of London, so she will now be playing for the Champions League instead of Europe’s third-tier trophy.

“In football, amazing opportunities arise. Big clubs, like Arsenal, have come for me and it’s really hard to turn down,” Rice told Arsenal’s website.

“You only ever get one career and I really believe in what Mikel (Arteta) is building here and the squad he’s building. I’m really looking forward to the future with Arsenal.”

Arsenal have already spent around £200 million since the end of last season to try to improve on their second-place finish in the Premier League. This is because of how painful it was for them to lose the title race to Manchester City.

Since Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” in 2004, Arsenal hasn’t won the title, but they made a lot of progress last season under Arteta.

They were on top of the Premier League table for most of the season, but in the last few weeks, they let City pass them and take the top spot.

Rice is sure that a young Arsenal team with rising stars like Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Gabriel Martinelli has a bright future.

“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,” Rice said.

“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.

“I know he (Arteta) is going to get the best out of me. I know I’ve got more levels to go up in my game and I feel like he’s the manager to take me to those next levels. I am really excited to be working with him.”

The transfer of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid could beat Rice’s record in the long run, depending on add-on clauses that could bring the total price to £115 million.

But for now, Rice has a huge fee to explain, since he joined Mikel Arteta’s team along with Germany forward Kai Havertz and Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber.

Granit Xhaka, a Swiss player, left to play for Bayer Leverkusen, so the addition of Rice will give Areta more options in the middle of the pitch.

“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,” Arteta said.

“Declan is bringing undoubted quality to the club and he is an exceptional talent who has the potential to be very successful here.

“The responsibility and role he has taken on has been very impressive and we are really excited that he is joining us.”