Blockbuster Deal: Arsenal Shatter Transfer Record with Staggering £105m Move for West Ham and England Star Declan Rice

Arsenal have agreed a £105m deal to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice.

The transfer breaks down as an £100m initial fee plus £5m in performance related add-ons.

The payment structure is currently under discussion between the two clubs. However, Rice is now able to negotiate personal terms and proceed with his medical examination.

Arsenal's previous attempts to secure Rice have been unsuccessful. They submitted two club-record bids which were both rejected by the Irons. The first bid was worth £90m and consisted of a £75m fee with an additional £15m in add-ons. The second bid, an initial offer, was believed to be valued at £80m with additional add-ons.

The offer surpasses Arsenal's previous transfer record of £72m, which they paid to Lille for Nicolas Pepe in 2019. Rice, who has been with West Ham throughout his professional career, recently guided the club to victory in the Europa Conference League.

Mikel Arteta, who prioritized using Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, and Martin Odegaard as his midfielders in the previous season, has shown a strong desire to bolster this section of the team. It appears that he has successfully acquired his primary target.

Rice's potential record-breaking move in numbers

Rice's amicable Hammers departure

Rice joined West Ham's academy from Chelsea as a teenager and has been a consistent figure since his breakthrough season in 2017-18. He assumed the captaincy following Mark Noble's retirement in the previous year. Last season, the 24-year-old showcased his skills in 50 matches across various competitions as West Ham secured a 14th place finish in the Premier League and emerged victorious in the Europa Conference League held in Prague.

Rice's international debut in 2019 has resulted in him playing over 200 games for West Ham and earning 41 caps for England. In March, pundit Gary Neville expressed his belief that Rice's value is approximately £50m-£60m, which is half of the current amount being negotiated by West Ham and Arsenal.

Neville: I would spend £50m-£60m on Rice

Neville expressed his admiration for Declan Rice, acknowledging his understanding of the position. However, Neville believes that when comparing Rice to top-notch holding midfielders, who often contribute with goals and assists, Rice falls into the category of a player who primarily focuses on defensive responsibilities.

Additionally, Neville emphasizes that a player in that role should possess high proficiency in ball control and be able to effectively connect the team's play. Furthermore, they should possess a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in receiving the ball from the defensive line.

In my opinion, currently, Declan should seek opportunities in a new professional environment to advance his career and play for a different club.

There is significant room for improvement for Declan to reach the standards set by players like Casemiro, Rodri, and other top performers in his position.

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"But, personally, I wouldn't be willing to spend the reported £110m or £120m. I would allocate a budget of £50m-£60m specifically for Declan Rice."

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