Declan Rice is superstitious so may take an unusual squad number when he completes his much anticipated transfer from West Ham to Arsenal.
Arsenal are on the brink of completing a £105million transfer for Rice, who is their number one transfer target. Rice has always been clear that he would prefer a move to north London, over a move to Manchester City, who have since pulled out of the bidding.
The 24-year-old midfielder will become the focal point of Arsenal’s midfield when he does arrive at London Colney in the coming weeks. Granit Xhaka is expected to join Bayer Leverkusen and Thomas Partey is potentially off to Juventus, paving the way for Rice to steer the midfield.
He will eclipse the £72m paid for Nicolas Pepe to become the club’s record arrival and usually a transfer of this significance would see the player take a prominent squad number. However, Rice has always worn the No. 41 shirt for West Ham and has grown attached it over the years.
Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap, he said: “It was just a number I was given in the academy by the kitman, Jamo. When you're in the U23s, you've obviously got the first-team squad numbers and then it starts to get to the higher numbers when you're in the U23s.
“I remember when I went to Seattle on my first trip with the first team, I just got given 41 and you know what, it's stayed with me since. To be honest with you, I've been having this conversation with my Dad: regardless of what happens in my career, I think I might stay with the 41.
“‘Rice 41’ has a nice ring to it and I've grown up playing in it. I'm a bit superstitious with things like that. I don't know whether if I change to a new number, it would hamper my performances! I don't know! I just think sometimes about a couple of things like that.”
Asked what he would choose if he had to pick one from the first 11, he replied: “Either four or six.” Both of those numbers are currently occupied at Arsenal, with Ben White wearing No.4 - the number Rice has worn most often for England - and Gabriel Magalhaes No.6. He could take No.5 if Partey does leave for Juventus, or Saudi Arabia.
Number 41 is the number of Arsenal under-23 midfielder Mauro Bandeira, who could be forced to change in the event Rice wants to stick with his West Ham squad number.
Rice is expected to become the second summer addition at Arsenal, following Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, who joined earlier this week for £65m. And he could be followed by Ajax defender Jurrien Timber because Ajax have agreed a deal worth £40m for the youngster. Those deals going through would take their spending to £200m, just a few weeks into the transfer window.
