Declan Rice transfer news updates, reports and rumours as Arsenal finally sign West Ham star for record fee | Sporting News (2024)

Declan Rice has finally completed a transfer to Arsenal after a protracted transfer saga.

The West Ham captain appeared certain to have played his last game for the club afterhoisting the UEFA Conference League trophyat the end of last season.

The England international became the subject of interest from Arsenal and Manchester City but, once it became clear the Gunners were his preferred option, the world has waited to the deal to be concluded.

On July 15, Mikel Arteta's side finally announced that they had got their man.

Declan Rice transfer news: Arsenal announce record deal

Despite links to Chelsea in previous seasons due to his boyhood connection with the club, Arsenal and Manchester City quickly emerged as favourites to sign Rice, with the Premier League champions pulling out of the race when it became clear they would be unlikely to get him.

On July 15, West Ham announced that Rice would be leaving the club for a "British transfer record", although they named neither the buyers nor the fee. Joint chairman David Sullivan said the Hammers had done what they could to keep the player but, after he turned down contract renewals, they reluctantly agreed to sell. "Declan will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Hammers fans and everyone here at the club," he said. "We wish him well for the future and he will always be an inspiration and an example to any young player coming through our academy."

The transfer was finally confirmed by Arsenal a few hours later. According to widespread reports, the Gunners will pay a club-record£105 million /$134 millionfor Rice, which is also the highest fee ever paid for a British player by a Premier League club (Jude Bellingham will be the most expensive British player ever if Real Madrid end up paying all possible add-ons to Borussia Dortmund). The deal includes £100m/$127m up front, with £5m/$6.35m in add-ons.

A new chapter begins. pic.twitter.com/ha5Btd8I2h

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— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 15, 2023

Arsenal bids for Declan Rice

• 1st bid:£80m/$102m(rejected)
• 2nd bid:£90m/$105m (rejected)
• 3rd bid: £105m/$134m bid (accepted)

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal have reached total agreement with West Ham to sign Declan Rice. #WHUFC have now accepted #AFC payment structure on record £100m + £5m fee. 24yo England midfielder given permission to do medical & finalise personal terms @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/WxG2JEaxrt

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 4, 2023

Why is Declan Rice leaving West Ham?

Following West Ham's historic win in Prague to lift the UEFA Conference League trophy, chairman David Sullivan confirmed Rice would be sold in the summer.

When asked by talkSPORT if he'd played his last game, he said: "I think it has to be.

"We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.

"You can't ask for a man who has committed more to us this season. In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement — or several replacements.

"It's not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down.

"It's cost him £10 million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go.

"You can't keep a player who doesn't want to be there."

How much will Declan Rice cost?

The valuation of young English players in the Premier League has grown in the last few windows. Jack Grealish moved to City for £100m in 2021, Ben White joined the Gunners for £50m, and Morgan Gibbs-White cost Nottingham Forest £42.5m.

The fee for Rice is said to be an initial £100m with a further £5m due in add-ons. That would make him the most expensive British player in history, but a little short of the Premier League record set byEnzo Fernandez's £106.8m/$135.5m move to Chelsea.

According to CIES Football Observatory, who analyse the football market, Rice is valued at £70m/$87m. In that regard, West Ham have got a good deal for their prized asset.

Declan Rice wages, salary, contract

Spotrac reports that Rice was earning £60,000/$78,500 per week after signing a five-year contract, with a further one-year option, at West Ham in the 2018/19 season. That worked out at around £3m/$4m per year.

The 24-year-old reportedly turned down an eight-year contract in 2022 that would have been worth a staggering £83m/$109m.

Rice's West Ham contract was due to run out at the end of 2023/24. Usually a player entering the final year of their contract would see their value decrease, but that was never likely in this case.

Arsenal often do not publish details of player contracts, but according to The Mirror, Rice's wages have been quadrupled to £240,000/$314,000 per week.

Do Arsenal need Declan Rice?

A problem for Arsenal in recent seasons has been a lack of depth in midfield, especially in more defensive areas.

Thomas Partey has struggled with injuries since joining in 2020. He only missed seven matches in five seasons at Atletico Madrid, but has been sidelined 37 times due to injury for the Gunners. Mo Elneny has missed 34 games this season because of a thigh problem followed by a long-term knee injury.

Rice was a Premier League ever present for West Ham, just one of three outfield players to do so in the league. He has only been absent for 12 league games in the last five seasons.

Rice can also play in multiple midfield positions, something Arteta appreciates. He can play the positions currently occupied by Partey and Granit Xhaka, as well as further up the pitch if needed.

Premier League 2023/24 TV channels, live streams

MORE: Watch every Premier League match in Canada on Fubo

UK: Matches are carried across Sky Sports and BT Sport streaming and TV platforms, with select matches on Amazon Prime.

USA: Select matches are televised on USA Network (English) and Telemundo or Universo (Spanish), and all three channels can be streamedon Fubo. The rest of the matches are streamed on NBC platform Peaco*ck for subscribers.

Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streaming exclusively via Fubo in Canada.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.

India:Star Sports network has the rights to show Premier League matches in India. As well as an English broadcast on Star Sports Select, select matches will be available via regional feeds on Star Sports 3 (in Bengali, English, Kannada, Malayalam), Star Sports 1 (Bangla) and Star Sports 1 (Tamil).