Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed, but British media reported the fee for the midfielder was 105 million pounds ($137.45 million), making it a record transfer between two British clubs.
“He is a player of enormous ability, who has been performing at a high level in the Premier League and for England for several seasons now,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said in a statement.
“Declan brings unquestionable quality to the club and he is an exceptional talent who has the potential to succeed here.”
The 24-year-old’s transfer fee tops the £100m Manchester City paid Aston Villa for England midfielder Jack Grealish in 2021
Rice has also become Arsenal’s most expensive signing, eclipsing the £72m they paid Lille for Nicolas Pepe in 2019, but the fee is lower than the £107m Chelsea paid to sign the midfielder. Benfica Enzo Fernandez midfielder this year.
Rice left West Ham after guiding them to the Europa Conference League title and a 14th place finish in the Premier League.
He was named the Europa Conference League Player of the Season for his role in West Ham’s win, which won them their first major European trophy in over half a century and their first major title since the FA Cup. in 1980.
Rice’s signing will bolster manager Mikel Arteta’s squad following the departure of Granit Xhaka, as Arsenal once again seek to challenge for the Premier League title and challenge for the Champions League when they return to the tournament for the first time. times since the 2016-17 season.
(With contributions from Reuters)
