West Ham United have officially confirmed the departure of Declan Rice, thus marking a milestone in British football history with their biggest transfer ever. After two failed attempts, Arsenal have finally secured the services of the talented midfielder, making him the new star of the team led by Mikel Arteta. This early transfer puts an end to one of the most prominent soap operas on the transfer market in England.
Despite Declan Rice having a contract until June 2024 and expressing his desire to leave West Ham after winning the Conference League, the Hammers were not about to let him go easily. The player rejected up to three renewal offers from the club before Arsenal managed to reach an agreement with the London team.
Thank you for the memories, Dec. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/yknfIMLcHj
—West Ham United (@WestHam) July 15, 2023
Ultimately, Arsenal had to overcome the £100m barrier, set by West Ham chairman David Sullivan, to gain the club’s consent. The transfer has closed in a record amount of more than 120 million euros, which makes Declan Rice the most expensive English footballer in history and places him in sixth position worldwide in terms of cost.
Key piece for Arteta
The young midfielder will sign a contract with Arsenal until 2028 and is expected to make a valuable contribution to Mikel Arteta’s team. With his transfer, Arsenal seeks to strengthen its squad and compete among the elite of English and European football.
Declan Rice’s departure from West Ham leaves a significant void in the team, as he has been a key player for several years. However, this record transfer represents a great achievement for the player and a new chapter in his promising career.