Declan Rice confirms ‘tough’ West Ham departure with Arsenal move imminent – Soccer News

Declan Rice’s ambition to play “on the very highest degree” was behind his “powerful” choice to depart West Ham.

The 24-year-old’s departure from the membership he joined a decade in the past in a club-record £105million deal – making him the most costly English participant in historical past – was confirmed by the Hammers forward of his imminent transfer to Arsenal.

Rice’s final act as a West Ham participant was to grow to be solely the third captain of their historical past, behind Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds, to raise a significant trophy after final month’s Europa Convention League victory over Fiorentina.

Declan Rice has penned an open letter to West Ham followers.

— West Ham United (@WestHam) July 15, 2023

However the England worldwide desires to play within the Champions League and that’s one thing Arsenal can supply.

In a letter to followers, Rice stated his goodbyes after “an absolute whirlwind of emotion” over the previous few weeks.

“I would like you to understand how powerful a call it has been for me to depart an surroundings that I’ve liked and cherished a lot,” he stated.

“This membership and its supporters will all the time be in my coronary heart, and perpetually part of who I’m.

“In the end, although, it has solely ever been about my ambition to play on the very highest degree of the sport.

“Taking part in on the other group to West Ham for the primary time shall be an uncommon expertise.

“I’m unsure but precisely how I’ll really feel, however I additionally know you’ll all perceive and respect that my skilled loyalties need to now lie with my new membership.”

Joint-chairman David Sullivan revealed final month the membership had a gentleman’s settlement with Rice to permit him to depart this summer time after the participant turned down the supply of a highly-lucrative new contract.

“I’m sorry to see Declan depart us however I consider that everybody at West Ham United ought to be very pleased with the half we now have performed in his journey from the Academy of Soccer at Chadwell Heath to changing into essentially the most beneficial younger participant in English soccer,” he stated in an announcement.

“I wish to make it clear to our supporters that we didn’t wish to promote Declan. We needed to construct our group round him and made a sequence of improved, long-term contract gives to safe his future.

“Nonetheless, as soon as Declan made it clear that he wished to maneuver on and search a brand new problem, the membership felt it will not be proper to face in his manner, performing in the perfect pursuits of West Ham United.”

Rice made 245 appearances for the membership, his final serving to safe a primary trophy since 1980, and supervisor David Moyes was understandably unhappy to see him depart.

Academy of Soccer to European champion pic.twitter.com/nyylbGFDJL

— West Ham United (@WestHam) July 15, 2023

“I’d prefer to personally thank Declan for the whole lot he has achieved throughout his time at West Ham United,” he stated.

“Clearly it’s unhappy after we say goodbye to somebody who has been with us for thus lengthy however we should now look ahead.

“As historical past exhibits, no participant is ever greater than the membership.

“Our whole focus now’s on constructing upon the success we loved final season, including to our gifted Europa Convention League title-winning squad as we enter our third consecutive season in Europe, and persevering with to develop the perfect younger expertise by way of our profitable academy.”