Arsenal are set to smash their transfer record for Declan Rice. In a deal worth up to £105million ($133.4million), it will be narrowly shy of the league record as well.
Following Enzo Fernandez's move to Chelsea in January, the current league high of £106.8million ($135.7million), Rice will become the 15th £100million ($125million) plus player in the history of the game and follows a trend of expensive midfielders. Since 2021 Fernandez, Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni and now Rice have all made major moves.
It demonstrates the demand of the market and also the talent being invested in, with all four players making the moves before their 25th birthday. At 24, Rice is the oldest of the lot by two years.
Now, with Arsenal agreeing to shatter their previous biggest fee, a forgettable and regrettable £72million ($91.4million) spent on Nicolas Pepe, it is a new era. Previously they would have been unable to land such a deal without Champions League football.
The trust put in Mikel Arteta as they continue to clear out ageing players, including key figures from the 2022/23 campaign including Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka, has allowed for streamlined and focused spending in areas Edu prioritised. Last summer it was at left-back and striker, this year it is midfield and attack.
Rice is the priority and has been for months, football.london understands, and the Gunners are set to reap their rewards for the efforts and groundwork put in to sign Rice. As far back as January they had plotted their moves, despite making numerous bids for Moises Caicedo and also bringing in Jorginho as a stop-gap.
READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Declan Rice deal 'done', Romeo Lavia move, Granit Xhaka deal
The Rice deal was the real centre of attention, though, and their relentless attitude towards him is ready to pay off. Rice has agreed terms to join on a long-term contract and figures with West Ham have been ironed out. For now he is a matter of time away from becoming a statement addition to the squad.
The timing of the rise for Arsenal, who have gone from fifth to second in one season with a 15 point rise, 23 more than they achieved in 2020/21, could not have been better either. It has coincided with Rice's contract becoming a real issue for West Ham. In less than 12 months he would be able to leave for free, though an option for an extra year is available.
Considering the Hammers are looking to consolidate their position in the league and build on their Europa Conference League success, banking the Rice money is a huge bonus at this stage. It is also not the type of price that is easily turned down, especially for a player that they signed for free after he was released for Chelsea.
Although it is hard to say farewell to a player that has grown throughout six years in east London, he would be a record sale for West Ham and would also prove their astuteness in recent seasons. Chelsea had long been expected to make serious attempts to re-sign him. In 2019 they were linked with a £50million ($63.5million) move for the 21-year-old. His price then quickly shot up to £80million ($101.6million) come 2021 and fresh interest.
At the time it was seen as too big of an investment, especially for a player of his position and before the footballing world started to value midfield specialists alongside flashy attackers. Chelsea will be regretting it now, though, with his price only continuing to rise. According to transfermarkt, his estimated value was £47.2million ($60million) in 2019, around what Chelsea had him down as.
That has now risen dramatically since. At current moment he is valued at £77million ($98million) which falls below the price being paid but still demonstrates just how much his stock has gone up. Whereas Arsenal in 2019 and 2021 were not able to financially match the offers from elsewhere and lacked the footballing project to attract Rice, they have the perfect storm in 2023 and aren't going to be letting it slip.
Story Saved
You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.
FAQs
Why Is It Taking So Long For Declan Rice Transfer To Be Announced? According to Sky Sports, the delay is down to Arsenal, rather than West Ham.
What Rice said about Arsenal? ›
But the England international says the Gunners "seemed more exciting". Declan Rice has revealed he chose to join Arsenal last summer instead of Manchester City, because the Gunners "seemed more exciting". The England international made the switch from West Ham United in a deal worth over £100 million last summer.
Who is the most expensive transfer made by Arsenal *? ›
According to talkSPORT, the top 5 most expensive Arsenal signings are: Declan Rice (£105m) Nicolas Pepe (£72m) Kai Havertz (£65m)
How much did the Declan Rice transfer cost? ›
Arsenal have signed England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham for a club-record fee of £105m. The deal eclipses the £72m Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019, while it is also a record transfer fee between two British clubs.
Why has rice not signed for Arsenal yet? ›
And the reason why has now been revealed. Sky Sports are reporting that West Ham are ready to rubber-stamp the move on their end. But their report adds that the Hammers are waiting on Arsenal's lawyers to approve the final wording of the deal - and that Rice's transfer will be completed once that is done.
Is rice going to get expensive? ›
The cost of rice is increasing despite export restrictions, a good harvest and ample state stockpiles, according to the food ministry.
Why did Rice choose Arsenal over Man City? ›
"This project seemed more exciting and that's why I chose to come to Arsenal, because I believe we're on to big things here," Rice explained. On the rivalry that developed with Rodri now that they have remained opponents instead of team-mates, he added: "I enjoy it. We're different players, I feel.
What is Arsenal's famous quote? ›
“You can never escape the history of a club like this. At some clubs, success is accidental sometimes - but at Arsenal, it is compulsory.”
What is Arsenal's famous slogan? ›
The motto of the club is Victoria Concordia Crescit, Latin for "Victory Through Harmony.".
Who is the most expensive flop in Arsenal? ›
Winger Nicolas Pepe was Arsenal's most expensive signing of all time when he arrived from Lille for a whopping fee of £72m in August 2019, although that record has since been broken by Declan Rice.
There was a period of time following Arsenal's move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium where money was tight and Arsene Wenger was forced to count the pennies. That all changed, however, when Mesut Ozil sensationally arrived from Real Madrid in 2013 for a club-record £42.5 million ($51m).
Who has the most sold Arsenal shirt? ›
The most popular shirt sales since Arsenal released the 2022/23 home shirt just over a week ago… 1. Martin Ødegaard, 8 2. Bukayo Saka, 7 3. Gabriel Martinelli, 11 4. Emile Smith Rowe, 10 5.
How much did Chelsea sell Rice for? ›
Fast forward 43 months and you would be hard-pressed to find a player that encapsulates those three words more than Declan Rice, the man the north Londoners have just bought for a club-record £105million.
What does Declan Rice get paid a week? ›
Hourly rate. Rice's new £250,000-a-week salary works out at £36,000 per day, and £1,488 per hour. That's not just during the working day but every hour round the clock, even when he's asleep. And presumably, he sleeps well.
What is Declan Rice ethnicity? ›
Early life and career
Declan Rice was born on 14 January 1999 in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, where he was raised. His paternal grandparents were from Douglas, County Cork, in Ireland. He joined the academy of Chelsea in 2006, as a seven-year-old.
Why does my rice take so long? ›
The cooking time can vary depending on the brand of rice you're using, how heavy your lid is, and so on. That's right, a heavier lid holds in more liquid and thus increases the cooking time. Test to see if the rice done enough. If it isn't, you can cook it for another couple of minutes.
How long does a rice taker take? ›
How Long Does a Rice Cooker Take? Typically, cooking a large quantity of rice in a rice cooker takes between 25 and 35 minutes. Different types of rice require different quantities of water and cooking times. Fortunately, a rice cooker is able to gauge when the rice is finished cooking and turns off automatically.
Why is rice shortage in the market? ›
Now, they face extreme drought, impacting yields and production, and may not have enough carry-over and ending stocks to bring rice to the global economy (Reuters, 2023). The USDA forecasts that global rice production for 2023/24 will exceed 2022/23 by only 0.1% (583,000 metric tons).
How long does it take for rice to be ready? ›
Once boiling, lower heat to a simmer and cover. Ensure it's simmering and not boiling or the rice can cook too quickly. Simmer until water is completely absorbed and rice is tender – about 15-25 minutes (will depend on size and freshness of rice). Drain off any excess water if there is any (there shouldn't be).
