Arsenal finally has Declan Rice after deals that lasted throughout the summer 2023 transfer window.
The Gunners have submitted a third offer for the West Ham captain believed to be worth £100m ($126m), potentially rising to £105m ($133m). That was enough to convince the Hammers to sell.
That means the English midfielder has become Arsenal’s most expensive signing of all time. He also overtook Jack Grealish to hold the British transfer record, although Jude Bellingham would claim that crown if all his add-ons are met at Real Madrid. Rice also became the second major signing made by a Premier League club.
take a look at Arsenal’s most expensive signings as Rice tops the list.
In Premier League history, only Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea has cost more (£106.8m/$135.5m).
Before Rice, Arsenal’s most expensive signing was Nicolas Pepe who arrived from Lille in 2019 for a fee of £72 million ($87 million).
Since Mikel Arteta became manager of the orth London side, his five signings have made it into the list of Arsenal’s 10 most expensive signings. Gabriel Jesus moved into fifth last summer (now seventh), while Ben White is one of two defenders on the charts.
Arsene Wenger broke Arsenal’s transfer record with the last signing, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. In January 2018, the Gabon striker signed from Borussia Dortmund for £55.1 million/$69.5 million.
New signing Kai Havertz, who joined from Chelsea this transfer window, is currently in third place ahead of Aubameyang.
Stan Kroenke, owner, and chairman of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) became a shareholder of Arsenal in May 2007 but became a majority shareholder in April 2011. In 2018, KSE acquired 100 % club ownership.
Owners have been under a lot of pressure from fans for a long time due to Arsenal’s activity in the transfer market. Despite the protests that occurred outside the stadium, relations between the two sides are now much better as Arsenal once again challenge for major titles.
