West Ham are reportedly waiting for Arsenal’s lawyers to finalise the wording of Declan Rice’s transfer before signing off on the deal.
Arsenal have agreed to pay the Hammers £105million for the England midfielder, who will become their record signing. Mikel Arteta made Rice his top target and he will become their third signing of the summer transfer window, following Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
The basics of the transfer were agreed back on June 28. but Arsenal fans are still waiting for official confirmation. Sky Sports reports that things are nearly done, with West Ham ready to sign the paperwork once it gets the sign-off from Arsenal.
The report states that everything should be done in time for Rice to join his new teammates on their pre-season tour of the United States. Arsenal are currently in Germany, training ahead of a friendly against Nurnberg on Thursday.
They will then fly to the US on Sunday, where friendlies have been lined up across the country. First, they will play MLS All Stars at Audi Field, Washington DC, on July 20, before facing Manchester United in the MetLife Stadium, New York, on July 22, and Barcelona at the SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, on July 26.
Rice, who will eclipse Nicolas Pepe (£72m) as Arsenal’s record signing, will be a part of the touring squad. Throughout speculation about his future, Rice has always been clear that he wanted to join Arsenal.
Manchester City made one bid of £90m for Rice but backed out of the race after it became clear of Arsenal’s determination and Rice’s preference. Rice will become the most expensive British player of all time, overtaking Jack Grealish (£100m) and the second-most expensive in the Premier League, with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (£107m) still top of the list.
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He will arrive in the same week as Ajax defender Timber, who has completed a medical ahead of a £38m transfer. The 22-year-old Netherlands international will add to Arteta’s options at the back amid suggestions he will primarily be used at right-back.
Rice could decide to stick with the shirt number he donned at West Ham following his move. The 24-year-old has worn the unusual No41 with the Hammers, having kept his academy number.
“I've been having this conversation with my Dad: regardless of what happens in my career, I think I might stay with the 41,” he told Gary Neville on the Overlap.
“‘Rice 41’ has a nice ring to it and I've grown up playing in it. I'm a bit superstitious about things like that. I don't know whether if I change to a new number, it would hamper my performance! I don't know! I just think sometimes about a couple of things like that.”
