![\"Rice](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screenshot-2023-07-15-130859-696x538.png\" "\\"Rice")
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Arsenal have confirmed the signing of England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham for \u00a3100m plus \u00a35m in add-ons.<\/p>\n
The Gunners\u2019 announcement comes after the 24-year-old\u00a0issued an open letter to Hammers fans\u00a0saying how \u2018tough\u2019 a decision it had been to leave the club.<\/p>\n
Rice has moved on after captaining West Ham to the Europa Conference League title last season.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019ve been looking at Arsenal over the last couple of seasons and the trajectory they\u2019ve been on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot last season but the season before, they [only] finished fifth, but you could see the style of play Mikel was implementing.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast season was an outstanding season, blowing pretty much every team out of the water with the exception of Manchester City.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rice is Arsenal\u2019s third major signing this summer as they look to go one better than their second-placed finish in the Premier League last season.<\/p>\n
His arrival follows the recruitment of Germany international Kai Havertz from Chelsea in a \u00a365m deal and Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax for a fee which could rise to \u00a338.5m.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe 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,\u201d said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeclan is bringing undoubted quality to the club and he is an exceptional talent who has the potential to be very successful here.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeclan has great experience in the Premier League at only 24 years old. He has captained a very good West Ham team and as we all saw, he recently lifted a European trophy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe responsibility and role he has taken on has been very impressive and we are really excited that he is joining us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arsenal succeeded with their third bid for Rice, having had two earlier offers rejected which were below West Ham\u2019s \u00a3100m asking price.<\/p>\n
Premier League champions Manchester City withdrew from trying to buy the player after they had a \u00a390m offer turned down.<\/p>\n
The initial fee for Rice equals the \u00a3100m City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in 2021.<\/p>\n
The Premier League\u2019s record transfer is the \u00a3105.6m Chelsea paid Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in January 2023.<\/p>\n
Earlier this summer, Jude Bellingham moved from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid for an initial \u00a388.5m in a deal which could rise to \u00a3115m with add-ons.<\/p>\n
Rice scored 15 goals in 245 games for West Ham, having joined the club as a 14-year-old following his release from Chelsea\u2019s academy.<\/p>\n
He signed his first professional contract with the Hammers in December 2015 and made his first senior appearance on the last day of the 2016-17 Premier League season as a substitute against Burnley, going on to make his full debut that August in a start against Southampton.<\/p>\n
Rice became the club\u2019s captain following Mark Noble\u2019s retirement in 2022 and, in what proved to be his final season at the London Stadium, was named the Europa Conference League\u2019s player of the season as West Ham ended their 43-year wait for a major trophy.<\/p>\n
He has been capped 41 times by England, playing in all five of their matches at last year\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn football, amazing opportunities arise. Big clubs, like Arsenal, have come for me and it\u2019s really hard to turn down,\u201d said Rice.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou only ever get one career and I really believe in what Mikel is building here and the squad he\u2019s building. I\u2019m really looking forward to the future with Arsenal.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me as a player, I\u2019ve come here really hungry to have more success and to spend my best years at this great club.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201c[Arteta] is a massive factor in why I\u2019ve come here.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know he\u2019s going to get the best out of me. I know I\u2019ve got more levels to go up in my game, and I feel like he\u2019s the manager to take me to those next levels.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really excited to be working with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
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