Arsenal have smashed their switch report to finish the signing of England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham, the membership introduced on Saturday.
The Premier League runners-up agreed a charge for Rice value £100 million ($131m) plus £5m ($6.5m) in add-ons, sources advised ESPN. The quantity simply eclipses Arsenal’s earlier report charge — the £72m paid to signal Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019.
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When all is alleged and executed, Rice, 24, may additionally turn into the most costly British participant in Premier League historical past, eclipsing the £100m Manchester Metropolis paid to signal Jack Grealish from Aston Villa two years in the past.
Rice’s arrival follows the signing of Germany worldwide Kai Havertz from Chelsea for a charge value as much as £67.5m as Arsenal proceed so as to add firepower to the squad that mounted an surprising Premier League title problem final season.
Arsenal ultimately fell brief to title eventual Treble winners Metropolis however got here out on prime within the race to signal Rice.
Metropolis had an earlier provide of £80m plus £10m in add-ons rejected, sources advised ESPN, however believed Arsenal’s bid exceeded their valuation.
West Ham have lengthy anticipated Rice, who has one 12 months left on his contract plus the choice of one other 12 months, to go away this summer time after guiding the membership to the Europa Conference League title final month. The membership confirmed his exit earlier on Saturday.
“Everybody at West Ham United ought to be very pleased with the half now we have performed in his journey from the Academy of Soccer at Chadwell Heath to changing into probably the most beneficial younger participant in English soccer,” West Ham joint chairman David Sullivan stated in a press release.
Arsenal had their opening two affords for Rice rejected, sources advised ESPN, together with a bid final month of £75m plus £15m in add-ons.
Manchester United had additionally been linked to Rice, however they weren’t in a position to match West Ham’s valuation.
Rice had spent his whole senior profession at West Ham, making his first-team debut in 2017 and being named the membership captain forward of the 2022-23 season. After making his debut in 2019, Rice has gone on to make 43 appearances for England.
“I knew from the very first second I walked into Chadwell Heath [training ground] that I had discovered one other place I might name house,” Rice stated in an open letter to West Ham fans.
“I look again now and realise how essential my time at Chadwell Heath was in shaping me, as a footballer and as a person… I discovered the proper place to construct my confidence, enabling my focus, willpower and ambition to flourish.
“I would like you to know the way powerful a call it has been for me to go away an atmosphere that I’ve beloved and cherished a lot. In the end, although, it has solely ever been about my ambition to play on the very highest stage of the sport.”