Breaking News: Arsenal Secures Sensational £105m Deal for West Ham Captain Declan Rice

West Ham has officially announced the agreement for Declan Rice's departure from the club. However, Arsenal, who have not been referenced in West Ham's statement, have not yet confirmed the arrival of Rice for a record-breaking fee of £105m, which surpasses any previous transfer fee between two British clubs.

Rice bid farewell on Instagram, expressing his disbelief that an amazing decade has now concluded. West Ham has played a significant role in both his personal and professional life. Parting ways is always challenging.

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I have experienced incredible moments, but none compare to that unforgettable night in Prague. Personally, I have undergone significant growth as an individual, a player, and a captain.

Since taking on the role of captain, with the mentorship of Nobes (Mark Noble), I have consistently felt pride and passion. Being able to lead the team and secure the European trophy was the ultimate achievement.

My bond with the fans is of utmost importance to me and my family. Since my arrival, you all have warmly embraced us as if we were part of your own. I sincerely appreciate it.

We are all aware of the unique significance West Ham holds as a club. This applies to not only the managers, coaches, and backroom staff, but also to my teammates.

"Thank you for some amazing memories and some of the best days of my life.

"Love you all. Love Dec."

Rice also penned an open letter to West Ham fans via the club's official website.

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West Ham received Arsenal paperwork on Friday

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West Ham sealed the agreement to transfer Rice to Arsenal on Friday, once the Gunners finally submitted the required paperwork. Despite the initial deal being agreed upon eight days prior, the Hammers grew increasingly frustrated with the delay in finalizing the transfer.

A source from within We News expressed, "I have never witnessed anything quite like this ongoing saga."

Nevertheless, West Ham has officially finalized the agreement to transfer Rice to Arsenal. The latter is expected to unveil their record-breaking signing before embarking on a pre-season tour in the United States this Sunday.

Arsenal's lawyers were causing delays in the paperwork, resulting in the hold-up.

West Ham believed that Rice had successfully completed his medical examination and had been regularly training while on vacation in Portugal.

The deal comprises of an initial payment of £100m with £5m in additional payments, surpassing Arsenal's previous highest purchase of Nicolas Pepe from Lille for £72m in 2019.

Rice's signing falls just shy of the British transfer record, held by Chelsea who paid £106.8m to Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in January.

Arsenal completed the signing of Jurrien Timber for a staggering £38m on Friday. Timber, who has committed to a five-year contract, is now officially a Gunner. The initial payment to Ajax amounts to £34m, while the remaining portion of the fee will be determined by performance-based bonuses.

What Rice adds to Arsenal and where he fits...

Timber has been recruited as a right-back - a position that Ben White predominantly occupied in the previous season. Additionally, he possesses the versatility to operate as a centre-back and has previously garnered attention from Manchester United.

Arsenal were presented with undeniable evidence of Declan Rice's worth during their clash against West Ham at the London Stadium in April, when an incident occurred just after the 30-minute mark resulting in a 2-2 draw.

Mikel Arteta's team had a comfortable two-goal lead and appeared to be heading towards victory, which would have given them a six-point advantage over Manchester City. However, everything changed when Rice, who Arsenal hopes to secure as their most expensive signing, quickly reacted to Tierney's pass intended for Partey in the deep Arsenal half. Rice swiftly sprinted towards Partey, successfully intercepting the ball, and then proceeded to carry it into the penalty box, where he found Paqueta making a run towards the goal.

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The momentum of the game, and potentially even the title race, shifted away from Arsenal as a result of a subsequent penalty won by Paqueta and converted by Said Benrahma. This turning point can be attributed to Rice's involvement.

Where does Rice's transfer fee rank?

The displayed sequence exemplified several attributes that render Rice highly attractive as a potential addition to Arsenal: the ability to anticipate and capitalize on opportunities, swift and robust movements to seize and retain possession, and the composure to create opportunities for teammates and provoke penalties.

Jude Bellingham became the most expensive English player of all time when he made the £115m move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid earlier this month.

Rice becomes the second most expensive ever, costing £5m more than the £100m Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish in August 2021.

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It would also be only the third time an English club has paid over £100m for a player.

Explained: How Arsenal can afford big-money summer signings

According to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, Arsenal's apparent newfound willingness to spend is seen as a "reward" for Mikel Arteta.

The reason for this is that they have successfully controlled their wages.

Arsenal's wages have decreased compared to 2018, being £150m to £170m lower than Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City. This has provided them with the freedom to comfortably enter the market and acquire new players without significant concern.

In addition to that, they also enjoy the perks of participating in Champions League matches, earning premium prices, and receiving a minimum prize money of £50m. Considering all these factors, it can be said that they still have some flexibility in terms of their spending capacity during this current window.

When questioned about a potential shift in strategy at Arsenal, he confirmed that there has indeed been a change. The club experienced a period of decline where they failed to qualify for the Champions League.

However, they successfully offloaded high-earning players like Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, which has provided them with the financial flexibility to now actively participate in the market and compete with other clubs.

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Which players will be transferring to new clubs this summer before the transfer window closes at 11pm on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland?

Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on We' digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on We News.