Summary
Arsenal seal Declan Rice deal
'Saying goodbye never easy' - Rice in emotional statement to West Ham fans
Jurrien Timber also signs for the Gunners from Ajax
Tottenham's Harry Kane in pre-season tour squad; Hugo Lloris left out
Al-Itihad make £40m Fabinho offer
West Ham facing Perth Glory in pre-season friendly - updates
Get Involved: Tweet #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)
Live Reporting
Harry De Cosemo
Thanks for joining us...published at 15:50 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
15:50 BST 15 July 2023
That's your lot, then.
An impromptu live page as Declan Rice's move to Arsenal was confirmed.
Here is all the content you'll need to keep on top of the story. Until next time, take care.
- Declan Rice: Arsenal sign England midfielder from West Ham for £105m
- Declan Rice transfer news: 'Rice can be Arsenal's new Vieira - but pressure now on Gunners'
- Declan Rice says 'tough' to leave West Ham with Arsenal transfer confirmed
- Arsenal's club page
'We've been preparing'published at 15:45 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
15:45 BST 15 July 2023
West Ham United
After West Ham's 6-2 win over Perth Glory, David Moyes paid tribute to Declan Rice.
"He's a super player... he performed excellently for us," coach David Moyes said of his departed star.
"Of course we've been preparing and getting things ready [for the summer transfer window]."
Next up for the Hammers, Lomdon rivals Tottenham...
"We've scored six goals today, that's what we want to see," said Moyes, after a freewheeling second half in which his side scored four.
"We didn't play quite so well in the first half, but were much better and stronger in the second half."
'Arteta must meet Arsenal's expectations'published at 15:40 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
15:40 BST 15 July 2023
Simon Stone
BBC Sport
Image source, Getty ImagesAmazingly, Arteta is now the ninth-longest serving manager in English football. In the Premier League, only Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Brentford's Thomas Frank have been in position longer. There are justifiable reasons why it is difficult to imagine the jobs of that trio being in jeopardy.
Of his top-flight rivals, only Moyes has also been in position for two years or more - and he teetered on the brink of dismissal at West Ham on numerous occasions last term before delivering the club's first silverware in more than 40 years.
Over the past three summers, Arsenal's net spend exceeds £400m, outstripping everyone, including Chelsea, given they are in profit during the current close season and were two years ago, with the dramatic splurge in between.
That financial investment - and that longevity - brings expectation. Arteta needs to meet it.
Read the full feature here.
'Arteta will be judged on this window'published at 15:33 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
15:33 BST 15 July 2023
Simon Stone
BBC SportImage source, Getty ImagesIn sanctioning the move for Havertz, Arteta has triggered the 'where will he play' question.
It is true that in Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal already have two outstanding wide attacking players. They bought a reinforcement in January in the form of Leandro Trossard, can release captain Odegaard into a more offensive role following the arrival of Rice and also have Gabriel Jesus to spearhead their attack.
The smart money is on Havertz being used in a midfield role.
However, criticism of the German's arrival does conveniently overlook the fact that when Arsenal stumbled at the end of last season, the claim was made they did not have the required strength in depth.
Arteta is addressing that. And he will be judged accordingly.
Read the full feature here.
'Rice can be a Vieira figure'published at 15:26 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
15:26 BST 15 July 2023
Simon Stone
BBC SportImage source, Getty ImagesArsenal's signing of Rice is a real statement of intent.
Arteta identified the England man as someone who could provide the athleticism and vision he felt Arsenal lacked in the middle of the pitch.
Although primarily used as a defensive midfielder at West Ham, Arteta knows Rice is capable of making an impact in an attacking sense as well.
This would arguably give the Gunners the kind of inspiration in the centre of the pitch they have lacked since the departure of legendary club captain Patrick Vieira in 2005.
Evidently, Rice's goal output needs to increase from the career-best seasonal haul of five he has managed in each of the past two campaigns but in a side that prefers to control possession rather than hit on the counter like West Ham, that is well within his capabilities.
Read the full feature here.
get involved Get Involved - 'Rice an upgrade on Xhaka'published at 15:20 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
15:20 BST 15 July 2023
#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
Rice will be a good signing and surely an upgrade on Granit Xhaka. Definitely grown into his leadership skills for both England and West Ham. Looking forward to seeing how Arsenal plays next season in 4 competitions and added workload and pressures of travelling.
Jas
'Arteta has received backing'published at 15:14 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
15:14 BST 15 July 2023
Simon Stone
BBC SportAs the 10th richest club in the world, according to Deloitte, they were not exactly the plucky underdogs some might have characterised them as. But Arsenal fans certainly had a lot to look forward to.
And it cannot be argued they have failed to push on.
In committing more than £100m to the signing of Rice from West Ham,£65m to sign Chelsea forward Kai Havertz and £34m spent on Dutch international defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax, Arteta has received significant backing.
Read the full feature here.
Getting about the pitchpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
15:05 BST 15 July 2023
Declan Rice covered the third-most distance of any player, covering 412.9km over the season.
The two players covering more distance than him? Southampton's James Ward-Prowse with 433.4km and Brighton's Pascal Gross with 418.9km.
get involved Get Involved - Rice a phenomenal addition'published at 15:00 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
15:00 BST 15 July 2023
#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
Declan Rice is a phenomenal addition to the squad. The price is justified for a first XI starting player and future international captain. Lots of envious fans out there today
Anon
'I want to get Arsenal back where they belong'published at 14:55 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
14:55 BST 15 July 2023
Image source, Getty ImagesDeclan Rice said he wants to get Arsenal "back to where they belong" after joining the club.
Rice's move from West Hamis worth £100m plus £5m in add-ons and he arrives after captaining West Ham to the Europa Conference League title last season.
Speaking for the first time as an Arsenal player, Rice said: "It’s been a bit overwhelming because of my relationship with West Ham. [With] the love and support I have for them, it’s been really hard to walk away. In football, amazing opportunities arise. Big clubs, like Arsenal, have come for me and it’s really hard to turn down.
"You only ever get one career and I really believe in what Mikel is building here and the squad he’s building. I’m really looking forward to the future with Arsenal.
"I’ve been looking at Arsenal over the last couple of seasons and the trajectory they’ve been going on. Not last season but the season before, they finished fifth but you could see the style of play Mikel was implementing. Last season was an outstanding season, blowing pretty much every team out of the water with the exception of Man City.
"With Mikel and how he works, the squad, how young everyone is, the energy around the club and also the challenge of getting Arsenal back to where they belong, that means a lot to me. I know the fans really want that. For me as a player, I’ve come here really hungry to have more success and to spend my best years at this great club."
Visit our dedicated Arsenal page.
England's expensive midfieldpublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
14:47 BST 15 July 2023
Image source, Getty ImagesExactly one month ago, Jude Bellingham was signed by Real Madrid for a fee that could rise to £115m, with add-ons.
Today, Declan Rice arrived at Arsenal in a deal that may rise to £105m.
Both midfielders have played key roles in Gareth Southgate's England side in recent times and, at just 20 and 24, have their best years ahead of them.
The future is certainly bright for these two, and it bodes well for the Three Lions' aspirations.
Arsenal aiming to close the gappublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
14:41 BST 15 July 2023
Image source, BBC Sport/ Getty ImagesMikel Arteta's Arsenal have been the Premier League's big spenders so far this summer, with the initial £100m they have paid to West Ham for Declan Rice taking their overall initial outlay to a whopping £199m.
The Gunners have also paid £65m and £34m for Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, respectively, and the fees for Rice, Havertz and Timber could yet rise to take their total spending for the trio beyond the £200m mark.
Rice 'a statement of intent'published at 14:38 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
14:38 BST 15 July 2023
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Premier League goalkeeper Asmir Begovic believes Arsenal are showing "massive ambition" by spending £105m on Declan Rice.
"Declan Rice is one of - if not the - best holding midfielder in the world," Begovic told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast last month.
"It's an incredible strength to bring him into your side. He's going to make Arsenal a lot stronger. I think he's a fantastic signing for so many different reasons.
"I think for the future, for now. I think it makes a statement of intent, especially on the back of the success they have had this past year. They're not resting on their laurels - they're pushing on again.
"But it's an incredible amount of money for a player with a year left on their contract. It's a dream for West Ham with the bidding war and his position being really one of one. There was not another Declan Rice - fair play to them for getting this fee and to Arsenal for winning this bidding war.
"They're putting their wallets out - money into the team. They've been very shrewd over the past few years and had some difficult years for sure but I think Mikel Arteta's come in and pushed this club back to the level it deserves. The signings they're making is showing massive ambition."
Sign up for Arsenal notifications
Rice ends Hammers career on a highpublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
14:33 BST 15 July 2023
Image source, Getty ImagesRice continued to be a consistent presence in the West Ham team after 2019. He scored his first Premier League goal in 2020 against Watford and he made his European debut against Zagreb in 2021.
After Mark Noble retired in 2022, Rice was named the club's captain. The 2023-23 season became one of the club's most successful, despite finishing 14th in the Premier League.
The club got to the final of the Europa Conference League where they faced Fiorentina. Rice captained the side to a 2-1 win, the first European trophy the club had won since 1965. The match was the last time he played for the Hammers.
Rice was named Europa Conference League's player of the season.
Rice represents the Three Lionspublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
14:25 BST 15 July 2023
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter making his debut in 2019 he was named in the Euro 2020 squad, which was delayed a year because of the pandemic.
Rice played in all seven games for England, including the final which Gareth Southgate's team lost on penalties to Italy.
He was also named in the 2022 World Cup squad and was another regular feature in the team. He played all five games England were involved in before they were knocked out by France in the quarter-finals.
Rice captains the Hammerspublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
14:18 BST 15 July 2023
Image source, Getty Images2019 was a huge year in Rice's career. He started it with his first goal for West Ham - coincidentally in a 1-0 win over Arsenal.
At the end of the 2018-19 season Rice was shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year and he won Players' Player of the Year, Individual Performance of the Season and Young Hammer of the Year.
In December 2019 he captained the senior team for the first time at 20-years-old. West Ham lost 2-1 to Leicester City.
2019 also saw Rice switch international teams. He had been approached by England before but played for the Republic of Ireland's team from 2018 - he won three caps for the team.
But in February 2019 he decided his future was playing for England and by March FIFA had confirmed the switch. Rice was named in the Euro 2020 qualification squad and won his first cap against the Czech Republic on 22 March. His first England start came three days later against Montenegro.
Making his senior debutpublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
14:14 BST 15 July 2023
Image source, Getty ImagesRice's senior debut came after he impressed bosses in his U23 performances. He was given call-ups for matches against Sunderland and Everton but did not make his debut until the final day of the 2016-17 season.
Rice was a 91st minute substitute for Edimilson Fernandes against Burnley. He made his full debut at the start of the next campaign against Southampton. It did not take him long to rack up the appearances with his 50th coming in December 2018.
His consistency for the club translated into a new long term contract at the end of 2018 with the midfielder signing a deal until 2024. The contract also had the option for an additional year.
Rice also made his senior international bow in 2018. He had played for the Republic of Ireland's youth teams and he won his first senior cap against Turkey in 2018.
Rice's career to datepublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
14:08 BST 15 July 2023
Image source, gettAt the age of seven Rice, signed with Chelsea's academy and learned his trade with the London club until he was released at 14 years old.
He then moved to West Ham's academy, in 2014 the same year he was released by Chelsea, and signed his first professional contract with the club in 2015.
He had trophy success with their youth teams as he won the Premier League Cup in 2016.
Putting a foot inpublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
14:05 BST 15 July 2023
Rice was top for possession won and interceptions in the 2022-23 Premier League season too!
He won possession 334 times and intercepted the ball 63 times.
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involved - 'Massive signing for Arsenal'published at 14:00 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
14:00 BST 15 July 2023
#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
Declan Rice is a massive signing for Arsenal. Top player, top leader, top man. Formidable response from the club to the long-standing criticism of Arsenal that they lack leadership and mettle.
Jon
