Arsenal have officially announced the signing of Declan Rice for £105m, including add-ons, thus ending his decade-long tenure at West Ham United. Rice's transfer fee breaks the club's previous record of £72m for Nicolas Pepe. Additionally, it surpasses the British record transfer fee previously held by Jack Grealish's £100m move to Manchester City from Aston Villa in 2021.
West Ham announced this morning that Declan Rice had left the club for a record-breaking fee, with Joint-Chair David Sullivan saying, "I am sorry to see Declan leave us, but I believe that everyone at West Ham United should be very proud of the part we have played in his journey from the Academy of Football at Chadwell Heath to becoming the most valuable young player in English football.. "I would like to make it clear to our supporters that we did not want to sell Declan. We wanted to build our team around him and made a series of improved, long-term contract offers to secure his future."
Rice has been a crucial player for West Ham since his debut in 2017, winning the West Ham Player of the Year award on three separate occasions.
His final game for the Hammers saw him lift the Europa Conference League trophy after West Ham defeated Fiorentina 2-1 in Prague. This historic victory puts Rice in West Ham's history books alongside Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds as the only players to have lifted a major trophy at the club.
This signing signifies a new era for Arsenal as they aim to build on last season's unsuccessful title challenge, falling short of securing their first league title in nineteen years. It demonstrates their intent to compete for trophies, acquiring one of the Premier League's emerging stars ahead of Manchester City. The arrival of Declan Rice has rejuvenated Arsenal fans, giving them a sense of being back where they belong since moving to the Emirates.
Declan Rice said of his move to Arsenal, "I've been looking at Arsenal over the last couple of seasons and the trajectory they've been 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."
Rice's impressive performances for his club also earned him a place in Gareth Southgate's England side. He started in every game of England's Euro 2020 campaign, including the final, and played in every match at the 2022 World Cup.
Known as a physical powerhouse who can disrupt play and drive forward with the ball under David Moyes at West Ham, Rice is believed to have the potential to elevate his game to the next level under Arteta at Arsenal, surrounded by more talented teammates. Despite his technical ability, Rice hasn't always had the opportunity to showcase it for club and country due to the specific roles he has played.
Arsenal Sporting Director Edu said, "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."
According to Squawka, in the 2022/23 season, Declan Rice was the only player in Europe's top five leagues to achieve the following metrics:
63 interceptions
55 clearances
40 completed take-ons
37 chances created
37 aerial duels won
36 shots
These statistics indicate that Rice has the capability to operate in a more advanced midfield role, given Arsenal's superior technical quality compared to West Ham. However, for now, Rice is a Gunner, and this marks a new chapter in his career at the North London club.
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta added, "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."
Do you think Declan Rice signing will help Arsenal get to the very top again ?