Declan Rice at Arsenal with a record transfer fee

Arsenal have signed English midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham for a record transfer fee.

Last season’s Premier League runners-up Arsenal signed Rice for a combined fee of £100 million ($131 million) + £5 million ($6.5 million), with additional payments, sources told ESPN. That amount far exceeds the previous record fee of £72m Arsenal paid to sign Nicolás Pepe from Lille in 2019.

Rice, 24, could become the most expensive English player in Premier League history when the bonuses are paid off, surpassing Manchester City’s £100m payment for Jack Grealish, signed by Aston Villa.

Rice’s transfer comes after Arsenal signed German international Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £67.5m. Arsenal continue to strengthen their team, which unexpectedly fought for the Premier League title last season.

CITY OFFER REJECTED

West Ham rejected City’s earlier offer of £80m + £10m in additional payments, but Arsenal’s offer is believed to have passed City’s assessment.

West Ham, with Rice’s one-year contract and an option for a further year, expected the player to leave this summer. Rice had made the club Conference League champions last month. The club had confirmed Rice’s departure on Saturday.

“Everyone at West Ham United should be very proud of the role we’ve played in the process from Chadwell Heath Football Academy to becoming England’s most valuable young player,” West Ham chairman David Sullivan said in a statement. release.

TRANSFER THAT SWEATS ARSENAL

Arsenal’s first two offers for Rice were rejected. One of those offers included £75m + £15m in additional payments last month, sources told ESPN.

Manchester United were also interested in Rice, but were unable to meet West Ham’s demands.

Rice has spent his entire professional career at West Ham. He made the first team in 2017 and became team captain in the 2022-23 season. After making his debut in 2019, Rice made 43 appearances for England.

DECLAN RICE’S LETTER TO WEST HAM FANS

“When I first walked into Chadwell Heath, I knew this would be my second home,” Rice wrote in an open letter to West Ham fans.

“I now understand how instrumental this place has been in shaping me, both as a football player and as a man… I have found the perfect place where I can boost my self-confidence and nurture my focus, determination and ambition.

I want you to know how difficult it was for me to decide to leave an environment that I love and value so much. But in the end, it’s always been about my ambition to play at the highest level.”