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North London club Arsenal announced today, Saturday, the signing of English international player Declan Rice on a long-term contract with West Ham United.
The financial details of the transfer were not disclosed but British media reported that the midfielder’s fee was 105 million pounds ($137.45 million), making it a record transfer between two British clubs.
“He is a player of immense ability, who has performed at a high level in the Premier League and England for a number of seasons now,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said in a statement.
A new chapter begins. pic.twitter.com/ha5Btd8I2h
– Arsenal July 15, 2023
“Declan brings an unquestionable quality to the club and is an exceptional talent with the potential to be very successful here.”
Transfer fee for the 24-year-old surpasses the £100m Manchester City paid Aston Villa for England midfielder Jack Grealish in 2021
Rice also became Arsenal’s most expensive contract, surpassing the £72m they paid Lille for Nicolas Pepe in 2019, but the fee is less than the £107m Chelsea paid to sign Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez this year.
Rice left West Ham after leading them to the European Conference League title and 14th place in the Premier League.
Finishing the paperwork ✍️ pic.twitter.com/LDeDc52Mnj
– Arsenal July 15, 2023
He was named UEFA Europa League Player of the Season for his role in West Ham’s win, which earned them their first major European trophy in over half a century and their first major trophy since the FA Cup in 1980.
Rice’s signing will bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad after the departure of Granit Xhaka, as Arsenal look to once again challenge for the Premier League title and compete in the Champions League upon their return to the competition for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
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