OFFICIAL: Rice joins Arsenal in £105m deal

The race for Declan Rice's transfer has been relentless for Arsenal. Manchester City, who lifted the Premier League trophy last season, were also interested but pulled out of the race.

West Ham were not going to sell their skipper for less than £100 million and have been reluctant to accept a lower offer. The Gunners tabled two bids but both were rejected. The Sky Blues tried to secure his services for £90 million but their bid was not considered. Mikel Arteta's side upped their bid to £105 million but City were unwilling to pay that amount.

As a result, Rice will play in an Arsenal shirt next season and will fulfill his wish to stay in London for the next few years. The English midfielder has become the most expensive signing in Arsenal's history, with Nicolas Pepe second after paying £72 million for him. West Ham announced first on Saturday morning the departure of their skipper, and a few hours later the official Arsenal announcement came.

The Gunners released a short video on their Youtube channel and Rice spoke a few words to his new teammates: "I'm really looking forward to playing with you all, to sharing many good moments together, obviously seeing what you guys have been doing the last few seasons, so I'm really looking forward to getting started and hopefully enjoying a few trophies together", he said at London Colney.

Club sporting director Edu said in the Gunners' statement: “Declan is a high-quality, young international player who will add great strength to our squad, fitting so well into our strategy of competing with young talented players at the centre of our club.”

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".

The Spaniard continued, “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 midfielder's announcement video featured him wearing '41' so it's clear he will keep his talismanic number at Emirates. 

The Gunners want to revamp their midfield at all costs in order to have a competitive team next season in both the Champions League and the Premier League. Rice is a key part of this and becomes the team's third summer signing, after Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, who was announced on Friday.

 With Swiss international Granit Xhaka having left to join Bayer Leverkusen, Rice's arrival will bolster Areta's midfield options. Rice is confident the future is bright for a young Arsenal team featuring emerging stars like Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli. 

'Really hungry'

"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."

 

July 15, 2023