Rice will join fellow new signings, Timber and Havertz for Arsenal’s preseason tour of the US next week
Kehinde Okeowo
Arsenal on Saturday announced the signing of Declan Rice from fellow London club, West Ham for a club-record fee of £105m with Odumodublvck’s hit song.
The track by the Nigerian rapper titled “Declan Rice” has been one of the top songs in the world since it was released in March 2023.
The deal for the England international eclipses the £72m Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019 and became the record transfer fee between two British clubs.
It is just short of the British record transfer fee with Chelsea paying £106.8m for midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in January.
Rice, who captained West Ham during his time there, signed a five-year contract with the Gunners until 2028 but the club has the option of extending it by one year.
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Apart from this, the Three Lions midfielder was also handed his preferred number 41 shirt at the Emirates.
The 24-year-old will now join fellow new signings, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz for Arsenal’s preseason tour of the US next week.
Speaking to the club’s official website after the deal was completed, Rice claimed that Mikel Arteta was the one who convinced him to join the north London side.
He said: “He (Arteta) is a massive factor in the reason why I’ve come here.
“I know he’s going to get the best out of me. I know I’ve got more levels to go up in my game, and I feel like he’s the manager to take me to those next levels. I’m really excited to be working with him.”
On his part, Arteta said: “We’re really happy that Declan is joining us. He is a player with tremendous ability, who has been performing at a high level in the Premier League and for England for a number of seasons now.
“Declan is bringing undoubted quality to the club and he is an exceptional talent who has the potential to be very successful here.”