Arsenal on Saturday confirmed the acquisition of England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham United for a whopping £100 million, with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons.
The Gunners’ announcement follows Rice’s heartfelt open letter to the Hammers’ fans, expressing the difficulty of his decision to depart the club.
Rice, at 24 years old, departs West Ham after leading them to victory in the Europa Conference League last season as the team’s captain.
Reflecting on Arsenal’s progress over the past couple of seasons, Rice expressed his excitement about joining the team.
He stated, “Not last season but the season before, they [only] 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 Manchester City.”
A new chapter begins. pic.twitter.com/ha5Btd8I2h
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 15, 2023
Rice’s arrival marks Arsenal’s third major signing this summer as they aim to improve upon their second-place finish in the Premier League last season. The midfielder joins the ranks alongside Germany’s Kai Havertz, secured from Chelsea in a £65 million deal, and Dutch defender Jurrien Timber, brought in from Ajax for a fee that could rise to £38.5 million.
The initial transfer fee for Rice equals the record-breaking £100 million that Manchester City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in 2021.
