Arsenal Set to Sign West Ham and England Midfielder Declan Rice in Record-Breaking £105m Deal….
Arsenal have reached an agreement with West Ham for the signing of their captain, Declan Rice, for a staggering fee of £105m. This transfer would make Rice the most expensive British player ever.
Manchester City had previously shown interest in the midfielder but ended their pursuit after having a £90m bid rejected by West Ham. Rice played a crucial role in leading West Ham to victory in the Europa Conference League last season.
The deal between Arsenal and West Ham consists of an initial fee of £100m, with an additional £5m dependent on performance-related add-ons. While the exact details of the payment structure are still being finalized, Rice is now free to negotiate personal terms and undergo a medical examination.
Arsenal had previously made two unsuccessful bids for Rice, including a club-record £90m offer that included £75m upfront and £15m in add-ons, as well as an initial bid of around £80m with potential add-ons.
This record-breaking transfer surpasses Arsenal’s previous highest expenditure of £72m when they signed Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019. Manager Mikel Arteta has been keen to strengthen the midfield, where Rice will be a valuable addition alongside Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, and Martin Odegaard, who were relied upon heavily last season.
Despite having a year remaining on his contract, Rice’s departure from West Ham has been facilitated by a gentleman’s agreement between the player and the club’s chairman, David Sullivan. Rice joined West Ham’s academy from Chelsea as a teenager and has since become an integral part of the team, eventually assuming the captaincy after Mark Noble’s retirement.
The 24-year-old midfielder appeared in 50 matches across all competitions last season, contributing significantly to West Ham’s 14th-place finish in the Premier League and their triumph in the Europa Conference League in Prague. With over 200 appearances for West Ham and 41 caps for the England national team since his international debut in 2019, Rice brings a wealth of experience and talent to his new club, Arsenal.
