Arsenal has officially announced the acquisition of England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham in a transfer deal worth £100m, with an additional £5m in add-ons. The confirmation from the

Gunners comes after the 24-year-old expressed the difficulty of his decision to leave West Ham in an open letter to the club's fans.

Rice has committed to a five-year contract with Arsenal, which includes the option of extending it for another year. Speaking about his move, Rice mentioned his observation of Arsenal's progress over the past few seasons, particularly praising the style of play implemented by manager Mikel Arteta. He acknowledged Arsenal's exceptional performance in the previous season, except for Manchester City.

Having captained West Ham to the Europa Conference League title last season, Rice joins Arsenal as their third major signing of the summer. The club aims to surpass their second-place finish in the Premier League from the previous season. Earlier signings include Germany international Kai Havertz from Chelsea in a £65m deal and Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax for a fee that could rise to £38.5m.

Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his excitement about having Rice on board, highlighting the player's talent and track record of performing at a high level in the Premier League and for England. Arteta recognized Rice's experience at just 24 years old, including his captaincy role at West Ham and recent success in lifting a European trophy.

Arsenal's successful bid for Rice came after two previous offers were rejected by West Ham, as they fell short of the £100m asking price. Premier League champions Manchester City withdrew their interest after their £90m bid was turned down. The initial fee paid for Rice matches the £100m that City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in 2021.

Rice, who scored 15 goals in 245 games for West Ham, joined the club at the age of 14 following his release from Chelsea's academy. He made his senior debut for West Ham in the 2016-17 Premier League season and eventually became the club's captain after Mark Noble's retirement in 2022. Rice's final season at West Ham saw him named the player of the season in the Europa Conference League, where the club ended their 43-year trophy drought.

With 41 caps for England, Rice expressed his excitement about joining Arsenal and his belief in Arteta's vision for the club. He emphasized his hunger for more success and his desire to spend his prime years at Arsenal. Rice also praised Arteta, stating that the manager played a significant role in his decision to join the club and expressed confidence in Arteta's ability to elevate his game to new heights.

The completion of this transfer marks a significant investment by Arsenal and highlights their ambition to strengthen the squad for the upcoming season. Photo by @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) London, Wikimedia commons.