Declan Rice Completes Moves from West Ham To Arsenal

Declan Rice will be joining Arsenal after being acquired from West Ham for a club-record sum of £105 million.

Before agreeing to a £105 million deal with the London club, the Gunners had two offers for the 24-year-old, one for £80 million and another for £90 million, rejected.

The England midfielder has a five-year contract with Arsenal that runs through 2028, and he will now make about £250,000 per week in north London.

He is Arsenal’s third summer acquisition, following the £65 million transfer of German playmaker Kai Havertz from Chelsea and the £40 million acquisition of defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax.

His ten-year tenure with West Ham, where he progressed from a member of the youth squad to club captain, ends with his move to the Emirates Stadium.

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After making his first-team debut in 2017, he made 245 appearances for the Hammers, and in his final match for the Club, he helped West Ham win its first trophy in 43 years by winning the Europa Conference League final.

The £105 million Declan Rice contract is divided into an initial payment of £100 million, which will be paid over 24 months, and $5 million in add-ons, which are $1 million each time Arsenal makes it to the Champions League and Declan Rice starts 60% of games.

Speaking to the Arsenal website, Rice vowed to step up his game while playing for the club and lauded Mikel Arteta as the manager.

Rice said, “In football, amazing opportunities arise. Big clubs, like Arsenal, have come for me and it’s really hard to turn down.

“You only ever get one career and I really believe in what Mikel is building here and the squad he’s building. I’m really looking forward to the future with Arsenal.

“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.

“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.”

Arteta told the club’s official website: “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.

“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.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal sporting director Edu said: “Declan is a player with fantastic ability and a proven record at both club and international levels. The process of this transfer has been a big team effort with a clear plan, and we are so happy that Declan is joining us.

“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.

“It’s great that Declan will be joining up with Mikel, our coaches and his new teammates in good time ahead of the new season.”