Declan Rice’s transfer to Arsenal has been finalized following Manchester City’s withdrawal from the running, ESPN has reported.
According to sources who spoke to ESPN, Arsenal made Rice a third offer at £100 million ($127 million) plus £5 million ($6.3 million) in add-ons, which West Ham approved on Wednesday. Even if there are still a few small matters to settle, they are reportedly only formalities at this point.
The 24-year-old Rice was valued at a certain amount by the defending Premier League winners, who think Arsenal’s offer already exceeds that amount. On Monday, City’s offer of £80 million plus an extra £10 million was turned down. The North London club and Rice have also reportedly reached personal agreement.
Additionally, on Wednesday, Arsenal announced the £67.5 million ($85.4 million) acquisition of Kai Havertz from Chelsea.
After leading West Ham to victory in the Europa Conference League earlier this month, Rice, who has one year remaining on his contract and the option of another year, is set to leave this summer. According to sources speaking to ESPN, Arsenal had two initial offers for Rice rejected, including one last week for £75 million plus £15 million in add-ons.
In a 3-1 victory over Watford on July 17, 2020, Rice scored his first and only Premier League goal of the year from outside the penalty area. Rice participated in every minute of West Ham’s 38 league games in the 2019–20 season. He led West Ham players in both categories of tackles and interceptions in the Premier League and completed more passes than any other player for the Hammers. He was named the year’s Hammer.
Rice scored his first goal of the year on February 15, 2021, when he converted the penalty and gave the club the lead against Sheffield United in a 3-0 home league victory. Rice, who had participated in every one of West Ham’s contests up until that point in the 2020–21 campaign, was sidelined for four weeks in April 2021 due to a knee injury sustained while serving as an England international.
