DECLAN RICE has completed his £105million move to Arsenal.
The England star leaves West Ham after six years with the club and having captained them to the Europa Conference League trophy.
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West Ham confirmed his exit in a tweet reading: “We can confirm Declan Rice has left the Club.”
The club then followed that up with a message reading: “Thank you for the memories, Dec.”
Arsenal are yet to officially announce the deal.
Rice, 24, has finally signed after the two London sides agreed on a payment structure, with Arsenal paying £100m by 2025 with a further £5m in bonuses.
His £105million move from East to North London sees him become the Premier League transfer record for a British player – and second in all-time British transfers after Jude Bellingham.
Rice recently shared pictures of himself training at The Campus in Algarve, Portugal.
The snaps, which showed Rice hitting the gym and going for a run, also showed him in an Adidas training kit.
He will now join up with Arsenal’s squad for their flights on Sunday for the pre-season tour of America.
In a statement, West Ham said: “West Ham United can confirm that agreement has been reached for Declan Rice to leave the Club for a British record transfer fee.”
West Ham manager David Moyes said: “I’d like to personally thank Declan for everything he has done during his time at West Ham United. Obviously it is sad when we say goodbye to someone who has been with us for so long but we must now look forward.
Joint-chair David Sullivan said: “I am sorry to see Declan leave us, but I believe that everyone at West Ham United should be very proud of the part we have played in his journey from the Academy of Football at Chadwell Heath to becoming the most valuable young player in English football.
“I would like to make it clear to our supporters that we did not want to sell Declan. We wanted to build our team around him and made a series of improved, long-term contract offers to secure his future. However, once Declan made it clear that he wished to move on and seek a new challenge, the Club felt it would not be right to stand in his way, acting in the best interests of West Ham United.”
LONG RUNNING SAGA
Rice’s exit ends a long-running transfer saga which has left West Ham angry with the delay, as Arsenal’s lawyers spent nearly two weeks signing off Rice’s new contract – believed to be worth £200,000 per week.
Earlier this summer champions Man City made a bid worth £90m, only to pull out of the race.
It left the Gunners with a clear path to sign Rice, having already agreed on personal terms for the club-record deal.
The move surpasses the previous £72m fee Arsenal paid Lille for Nicolas Pepe in 2019.
Mikel Arteta has already signed Kai Havertz from Chelsea and Ajax defender Jurrien Timber.
Rice could take Granit Xhaka’s place in the side with the Swiss star closing in on a move to Bayer Leverkusen.
The Gunners are also ready to listen to offers for Thomas Partey following Rice’s arrival.
Rice joined Chelsea’s academy at the age of six, in 2006, and stayed until he was released eight years later, when he joined West Ham’s academy.
He broke into the first team aged 17, and has twice been voted the club’s Player of the Year.
He has made 204 Premier League appearances for the club, and has scored ten goals.
Rice also has 43 caps for England, and helped the Three Lions reach the final of Euro 2020 and the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
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