Arsenal sign Declan Rice from West Ham in club-record transfer - ESPN

Arsenal have smashed their transfer record to complete the signing of England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham, the club announced on Saturday.

The Premier League runners-up agreed a fee for Rice worth £100 million ($131m) plus £5m ($6.5m) in add-ons, sources told ESPN. The amount easily eclipses Arsenal's previous record fee — the £72m paid to sign Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019.

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When all is said and done, Rice, 24, may also become the most expensive British player in Premier League history, eclipsing the £100m Manchester City paid to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa two years ago.

Rice's arrival follows the signing of Germany international Kai Havertz from Chelsea for a fee worth up to £67.5m as Arsenal continue to add firepower to the squad that mounted an unexpected Premier League title challenge last season.

Arsenal eventually fell short to title eventual Treble winners City but came out on top in the race to sign Rice.

City had an earlier offer of £80m plus £10m in add-ons rejected, sources told ESPN, but believed Arsenal's bid exceeded their valuation.

West Ham have long expected Rice, who has one year left on his contract plus the option of another year, to leave this summer after guiding the club to the Europa Conference League title last month. The club confirmed his exit earlier on Saturday.

«Everyone at West Ham United should be very proud of the part we have played in his journey from the Academy of Football at Chadwell Heath to becoming the most valuable young player in English football,» West Ham joint chairman David Sullivan said in a statement.

Arsenal had their opening two offers for Rice rejected, sources told ESPN, including a bid last month