England International on Way to Arsenal
July 3, 2023 264 3 minutes readEnglish Premier League News
Rice to Transform Arsenal Midfield
Declan Rice’s final act as a West Ham United player was captaining his side to a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the UEFA Europa Conference League final. Rice won the Conference League’s Player of the Season as West Ham won their first European trophy for 58 years. That kicked off a transfer frenzy between England’s top clubs. Rice, who has made 43 appearances for England at the age of 24, is set to join Arsenal and become the second-most expensive British player of all time. We’ll take a look at the final Declan Rice next club odds and what his transfer means for him and Arsenal next season.
Arsenal to Shatter Club Transfer Record
It has been no secret that Arsenal have wanted to make Declan Rice the lynchpin of their midfield for some time now. What wasn’t clear is how much Arsenal’s owners would be willing to spend to make that a reality. Rice finished first in the EPL player stats in the 2022-23 season with 63 interceptions. A stat which further convinced Mikel Arteta to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners had two June bids rejected by West Ham before Man City swooped in to try to hijack the transfer. Pep Guardiola and the Cityzens offered West Ham £90m for the right to sign Rice but also had the bid rejected. At that time, Declan Rice’s next club odds showed Arsenal were -190 favorites to sign him. Sure enough, Arsenal came through with a bid worth £105m which West Ham simply could not refuse. Once the payment structure is agreed, Rice is set to become the second-most expensive English player of all-time.
How Declan Rice Fits In
Mikel Arteta appears to have a specific vision for Arsenal next season. He’s wasted no time bringing in players and signing other key players to contract extensions. With their first move of the Summer, Arsenal brought in versatile Chelsea midfielder/attacker Kai Havertz. Havertz could play in Granit Xhaka’s modified number eight role in midfield where he has license to roam and make runs into the box.
Arteta’s vision for Declan Rice seems to be more straightforward. Rice can be a traditional midfield destroyer who can start attacks with his composure on the ball and vision. He made over 200 Premier League appearances for West Ham and there’s no doubt about his leadership abilities.
David Moyes named Rice West Ham’s captain at the age of 23 and he helped delivered a first European trophy for nearly 60 years. Rice figures to slot directly into the Arsenal starting lineup, which may or may not spell the end of Thomas Partey’s career in North London. Regardless, Arsenal could be a force to be reckoned with for English Premier League betting in 2023-24.
What’s Next for Arsenal?
Arsenal open up their English Premier League schedule with Nottingham Forest on August 12th. There should be some new arrivals and departures before then. Technical director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta are going to do their best to avoid the disappointment of last season. They led the EPL for 248 days but couldn’t seal the deal, as Manchester City won the treble.
To contend for both the EPL and Champions League, depth is a key concern. That’s why Arsenal are linked to Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, who can play at center or right back. Arsenal’s midfield situation is also far from settled. Sure Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard should play the bulk of the minutes. However, it’s unclear what the future holds for Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Jorginho.
If even one of them leaves, the Gunners will have to dip into the transfer market to find replacements. Xhaka is linked to Bayer Leverkusen, while possible destinations for Partey include Juventus and Saudi Arabia. One name that has been thrown around is Southampton teenager Romeo Lavia. Now that the Declan Rice next club odds are no longer a concern, though, Arsenal’s team looks stronger already than in 2022-23.
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ArsenalDeclan RiceEnglish Premier LeagueFiorentinaWest Ham United
FAQs
Declan Rice next club odds (talkSPORT BET):
Arsenal - 8/15. Manchester City - 11/8. Manchester United - 20/1. Chelsea - 33/1.
What teams want Declan Rice? ›
Reports suggest that the biggest clubs in England all hold an interest in the West Ham captain, with Arsenal and Man City particularly strongly linked, while former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel apparently wants to take him to Bayern Munich to boost the engine room of the Bundesliga champions.
How much did the Declan Rice transfer cost? ›
Arsenal have smashed their transfer record to complete the signing of England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham, the club announced on Saturday. The Premier League runners-up agreed a fee for Rice worth £100 million ($131m) plus £5m ($6.5m) in add-ons, sources told ESPN.
Will Declan Rice transfer? ›
England international Declan Rice has joined us from West Ham United on a long-term contract.
Is Declan Rice one of the best? ›
He was in the Premier League's top five players for both tackles and interceptions leading West Ham players in both categories and making more passes than any other West Ham player. He was named Hammer of the Year for the first time in 2020.
Are Mason Mount and Declan Rice best friends? ›
He made his first start since November on Monday. He is injured again already. There will be no reunion on Sunday with perhaps his best mate in football. Mount and Declan Rice is a friendship that began when they were eight and is sufficiently close that they have holidayed together.
Who can replace Declan Rice? ›
West Ham: James Ward-Prowse is the perfect replacement for Declan Rice and represents shrewd transfer business. The James Ward-Prowse swing was back in all its glory last weekend.
What is Declan Rice's best position? ›
Of Arsenal's midfield positions, Rice said: "Mikel [Arteta] wants his number six and number eight to play completely differently. When I've played eight, I have been the highest on the pitch sometimes which is strange to me. I have said that I think six is my best position."
Is Declan Rice elite? ›
Conversation. Declan Rice is a multi-millionaire, athletic, 6'1 elite footballer that is with the woman he loves.
Will Declan Rice come to Arsenal? ›
Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and William Saliba are expected to be back in Arsenal training in the coming days. The trio were allowed an extended break after Euro 2024 but are set to return to Sobha Reality Training Centre in time for their penultimate friendly against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
Declan Rice All time stats
| General stats |
|---|
| Matches played | 49 | Goals |
|---|
| Discipline |
| Yellow Card | 7 | Red Card |
| Goals with |
14 more rowsRice's new £250,000-a-week salary works out at £36,000 per day, and £1,488 per hour. That's not just during the working day but every hour round the clock, even when he's asleep. And presumably, he sleeps well.
Will Declan Rice go to Man City? ›
Declan Rice has revealed he chose to join Arsenal last summer instead of Manchester City, because the Gunners "seemed more exciting".
How rich is Declan Rice? ›
Declan Rice's net worth in 2024 is estimated at around $30 million. At such a young age, the impact Rice has made is undeniably immense. Hence, besides his notable earning power at the club, he is also associated with a few exclusive deals, including Adidas, which he promotes through his social media.
How much Declan Rice goes to Arsenal for? ›
Declan Rice has joined Arsenal from West Ham in a record £105m deal. The transfer is made up of a £100m initial fee plus £5m in performance-related add-ons. It is the highest amount an English club has paid for an English player.
Who would replace Declan Rice? ›
West Ham: James Ward-Prowse is the perfect replacement for Declan Rice and represents shrewd transfer business. The James Ward-Prowse swing was back in all its glory last weekend. Not the dead-ball swing - although that's famous too - but the golf swing celebration he displays whenever scoring a goal.
How long does Declan Rice have on his contract? ›
“Last season was an outstanding season, blowing pretty much every team out of the water with the exception of Manchester City.” The fee for Rice is a Premier League record for a British player. He has signed a five-year deal to keep him at the club until 2028, with the option of a further year.
Who does Declan Rice go out with? ›
Who is Lauren Fryer? Lauren Fryer is Arsenal player Declan Rice's long-term girlfriend after meeting when they were young.
