Declan Rice has joined Arsenal from West Ham in a British record transfer (Picture: Getty)
West Ham have confirmed the departure of Declan Rice having agreed a British record transfer fee, but there was one significant detail missing from their official statement… the midfielder’s destination.
Relations between Arsenal and their London rivals have become strained over the course of the last month after the bidding war the Hammers envisaged would take place for their skipper failed to materialise.
Arsenal had two offers which fell well short of West Ham’s asking price rejected last month, which prompted Manchester City to enter the race.
The treble winners, however, also saw their opening offer rejected and swiftly decided to pull the plug when it became clear Rice had his heart set on a move to Arsenal.
Negotiations subsequently centered on the structure of the payments West Ham would receive once a mammoth £105million fee was agreed.
It has been an open secret for at lest at fortnight that Rice would get his dream move, but even up until Friday the Hammers were irked by Arsenal dragging their heels.
Manager David Moyes said yesterday: ‘Until it’s done we can’t plan anything.
‘Everybody knows the situation, we’re expecting something to happen. I think you (Sky Sports) said it was done two weeks ago and it’s still not done.’
An end to the saga is, mercifully, however, in sight with Arsenal’s official confirmation the last significant milestone in what has become an epic transfer saga.
Declan Rice’s final game for West Ham came in the Europa League Conference final (Picture: Getty)
Eagle-eyed Arsenal fans, however, couldn’t help but notice West Ham’s refusal to make any mention on their club’s name in a lengthy statement confirming Rice’s decision to quit his boyhood club.
‘West Ham are so petty, they can’t even mention us in their statement. Telling in the way they’ve acted this entire transfer,’ wrote one supporter.
Another fan, meanwhile, pointed out the difference in sentiment between Ajax’s farewell message to Rice’s new teammate, Jurrien Timber, compared West Ham’s pointed statement.
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‘The difference in class between Ajax and West Ham is hilarious,’ he wrote, in reaction to Joint-Chair David Sullivan revealing Rice had turned down several offers of an improved contract to remain.
‘I would like to make it clear to our supporters that we did not want to sell Declan,’ he wrote.
‘We wanted to build our team around him and made a series of improved, long-term contract offers to secure his future. However, once Declan made it clear that he wished to move on and seek a new challenge, the Club felt it would not be ight to stand in his way, acting in the best interests of West Ham United.’
MORE : West Ham confirm Declan Rice departure ahead of Arsenal transfer
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‘It’s so petty!’
