Arsenal has secured the signing of England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham in a groundbreaking club-record deal worth £105m. The substantial transfer fee surpasses the previous record set in 2019 when Arsenal paid £72m to acquire Nicolas Pepe from Lille. Additionally, it stands as the highest transfer fee ever paid between two British clubs, narrowly missing the British record held by Chelsea for Enzo Fernandez’s £106.8m acquisition from Benfica in January.
Declan Rice has committed to a five-year contract at Arsenal, extending until 2028, with an option for an additional year. The 24-year-old will don the No. 41 shirt, marking the end of his impressive decade-long journey at West Ham, where he progressed from a youth-team player to becoming the club captain. During his tenure at West Ham, Rice made 245 appearances and recently led the team to victory in the Europa Conference League final, securing the club’s first trophy in 43 years.
With the signing of Declan Rice, Arsenal’s summer spending has soared to £208m, following the acquisitions of Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £65m and Jurrien Timber from Ajax for £38m. The monumental £105m transfer fee for Rice is structured as an initial payment of £100m, to be disbursed over 24 months, supplemented by £5m in add-ons. These additional payments are contingent on Arsenal’s qualification for the Champions League and Rice starting 60% of the games.
Speaking to the Arsenal website, Declan Rice expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Gunners and praised the club’s manager, Mikel Arteta. He acknowledged the significance of such a remarkable opportunity and cited the potential for growth under Arteta’s leadership. Embracing the challenge of elevating Arsenal back to their rightful place in football, Rice looks forward to contributing to the club’s future success.
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, reciprocated the excitement and stated his pleasure at securing the services of Declan Rice. Arteta highlighted Rice’s remarkable abilities and performance levels in the Premier League and on the international stage.
The signing of Declan Rice underscores Arsenal’s commitment to building a competitive squad featuring young and talented players, consistent with the club’s overarching strategy. Sporting Director Edu emphasized Rice’s exceptional abilities and track record at both the club and international levels, highlighting his potential to strengthen the Arsenal squad significantly.
Arsenal’s thorough and well-executed transfer strategy culminated in the acquisition of Declan Rice, who will be joining his new teammates and the coaching staff ahead of the upcoming season. The Gunners and their fans eagerly await the impact and contributions Rice will bring to the club as they strive for success on multiple fronts.
