Last season’s English Premier League runners up Arsenal have completed the signing of West Ham captain Declan Rice for £105 Million, making him the 2nd most expensive player of English origin. The 24-year-old was growing increasingly closer towards a move away from the London Stadium.
And earlier today, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Declan Rice to Arsenal is a done deal, official announcement is to take place in the coming days. Rice will switch allegiance from an East London club to a club based in North London.
We can confirm Declan Rice has left the Club.
— West Ham United (@WestHam) July 15, 2023
Both of the clubs from the region had a terrific season. Arsenal finished 2nd after spending more than 200 days in the PL table, West Ham United under the Captaincy of Rice won the 2nd UEFA Conference League, the club’s first European title since 1964-65’s European Cup Winners’ triumph.
Rice has become the latest addition of Mikel Arteta’s summer signings. Attacker Kai Havertz also swapped for the North Londoners from a West London club where he won the UEFA Champions League in 2020/21. Jurien Timber’s signing is also official now and the Gunners are really strengthening their Arsenal for a power packed 2022/23 season which will see them play Champions league football after more than 5 years.
A detailed look at the contract of Declan Rice
While Rice is training at Portugal during his vacations, Arsenal have agreed to pay £100m with £5m in add-ons. He has overtaken Jack Grealish to become the 2nd most expensive English footballer and he missed by that spot for a matter of £10 Millions more as Jude Bellingham costed £115m.
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Rice also overtook Jack Grealish’s £100m in 2021 to become 2nd most expensive signing by a British club by just 2 Millions. Enzo Fernandez stands as the most expensive player in the Premier League when Chelsea splashed £106.8 Millions earlier in the Winter transfer window.
Arsenal has become only the 3rd British club to pay triple figures and the signing could be an effective one for Mikel Arteta’s side. Rice made more Interceptions (63) than any other Arsenal midfielder last season in PL and also made more Progressive carries with the ball (315) than Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Xhaka.