Declan Rice has now opened up on what ‘people have stopped talking’ about since the midfielder joined Arsenal in a club-record transfer from West Ham United last summer.
The Gunners raided London Stadium to sign the Hammers’ captain last July, ending his 10-year career in claret-and-blue. Rice had emerged as one of the best anchors in Europe whilst in east London. Yet the 25-year-old has still taken his skills to a higher level in north London.
Rice has already made 50 appearances at Arsenal in which the 50-cap England ace also has seven goals and 10 assists. He left West Ham after giving just 15 goals and 13 assists in 245 appearances. His best terms in front of a net at the Irons returned five goals and four assists.
Declan Rice feels ‘people have stopped talking’ about his club-record transfer fee
Boss Mikel Arteta has exploited what Rice offers Arsenal in a box-to-box role to allow him to influence games in the final third more often. The Spaniard has also taken advantage of how Rice delivers corners, with four of his 10 assists across all competitions coming from corners.
The Kingston-upon-Thames native further establishing himself as an integral part of Arteta’s engine room has also helped to move the story on from his club-record fee. Arsenal paid an initial £100m for Rice, with West Ham getting £5m in add-ons based on his first five seasons.
READ MORE: Will West Ham benefit from Arsenal winning the title? Rice add-ons explained
Rice has reflected on his transfer, however, and admits he cost Arsenal a ‘big amount’ to sign from West Ham. Yet while the midfielder feels people have moved on from the price tag the Gunners believed he was worth, Rice thinks only Arsenal’s fans can say if he justified £100m.
The Irons product told Men’s Health for its June 2024 edition: “I got bought for a big amount of money. I knew I was a good player. I had the full confidence that I could make an impact.
“People have stopped talking about the price. Of course, it was a lot of money. It’s up to the fans to say if I justify it.”
Arsenal’s fans, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer all think Declan Rice was a bargain
While Rice believes only Arsenal’s fans can say if he justifies a club-record transfer fee, their latest chant suggests they feel he did. Supporters away at Amex Stadium in April when the Gunners won 3-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion also sang, ‘Declan Rice, we got him half-price’.
Highbury hero Ian Wright even claimed in November that he felt ‘guilty’ that Rice only cost £100m as Arsenal ‘robbed’ West Ham. Even Alan Shearer also suggested last December that Rice was ‘making £100m look like a bargain’ after settling straight into Arteta’s engine room.