Transfer Centre

Arsenal announce British-record signing of Declan Rice

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 15 July 2023

Arsenal confirm the British-record signing of Declan Rice from West Ham United, paying a reported £105m fee for the England international.

Arsenal have confirmed the British-record signing of Declan Rice from West Ham United.

The 24-year-old has joined the Gunners on a five-year deal with the option of a further 12 months for a reported £105m, surpassing the £100m that Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish in the summer of 2021, as well as eclipsing £72m winger Nicolas Pepe as Arsenal's all-time record signing.

Rice becomes Arsenal's third signing of the summer window, following £65m attacker Kai Havertz and £38.5m defender Jurrien Timber - whose arrival was announced on Friday - to the Emirates Stadium.

"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," Gunners head coach Mikel Arteta told arsenal.com.

"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.

A new chapter begins. pic.twitter.com/ha5Btd8I2h
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 15, 2023

"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."

Since establishing himself as a mainstay of the West Ham first team, Rice had long been linked with a move to a Champions League-competing club, with all of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United tipped to prise him away from the Irons in windows gone by.

Arsenal entered the race to sign the former Chelsea product earlier this year and had two bids rejected by West Ham, before eventually coming to an agreement over a nine-figure transfer.

The two clubs took longer than expected to finalise the terms of Rice's record-breaking move, though, while apparent paperwork delays on Arsenal's end also held up the midfielder's unveiling.

However, West Ham announced on Saturday morning that Rice would be departing the club after 10 years of service, and Arsenal sporting director Edu hailed a "big team effort" to get the midfielder through the door.

West Ham United's Declan Rice kisses the trophy after winning the Europa Conference League Final on June 7, 2023 © Reuters

"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," Edu added.

"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."

Rice left Chelsea's academy setup in 2013 to join West Ham, where he amassed 15 goals and 13 assists in 245 matches across all competitions, captaining the Hammers to Europa Conference League glory last season.

The midfielder will wear his distinctive number 41 shirt at Arsenal and will fly out to the USA with his new teammates on Sunday, as Arteta's team prepare for a trio of pre-season fixtures with MLS All-Stars, Barcelona and Manchester United.