Declan Rice made true feelings on West Ham transfer clear after Arsenal promise

28 December 2023 , 06:00

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Declan Rice decided to quit West Ham in the summer to join Arsenal (Image: Thomas Eisenhuth/UEFA)

Declan Rice may be West Ham through and through, but his desire to win major accolades enabled Arsenal to lure him across the capital in the summer.

Losing a homegrown talent in Rice, 24, would have stung but the Hammers were well compensated by their London rivals, who made the midfielder their most expensive acquisition ever in a deal which could eventually eclipse £105million.

Rice enjoyed a fairytale ending in the east end, too, given that he captained the club to a European trophy in his final act in claret and blue. But club chairman David Sullivan promptly made it clear that Rice wanted to move on shortly after West Ham's Europa Conference League triumph.

When he was asked if that would be Rice's final act as a West Ham player, Sullivan told talkSPORT : "I think it has to be. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going. You can't ask for a man who has committed more to us this season. In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement - or several replacements.

"It's not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down. It's cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go. You can't keep a player who doesn't want to be there."

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A month later, Rice was unveiled an Arsenal player - but the record-breaking deal that was eventually struck with West Ham was anything but straightforward.

After weeks of tough negotiations, both parties were urged to come to an agreement with the 2023/24 campaign looming. Just days before Rice's transfer to Arsenal was confirmed, Sky Sports claimed that the club had 'promised' West Ham that they would conclude the formalities of the deal in the coming days.

Join the debate! What have you made of Rice so far this season? Let us know here.

Rice has excelled since joining the Gunners for a club-record transfer fee (Getty Images)

Rice has already had a significant impact at the Emirates since his switch, popping up with pivotal goals against Manchester United, Chelsea and Luton.

Unfortunately, he was booed by a smattering of fans on his return to the London Stadium back in November when the Hammers dumped Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup.

The stakes are far higher this time around, though, as Rice prepares to face his former club for the first time in the Premier League on Thursday night. Arsenal need a win to regain top spot from Liverpool as we head into the second half of the season.

Dan Marsh