Arsenal confirm signing of Declan Rice
Declan Rice has completed his transfer from West Ham to Arsenal in a British record £105million deal. The England midfielder’s departure from the club he joined a decade ago was confirmed by the Hammers on Saturday afternoon, with Arsenal announcing the switch had been completed. Rice’s move to the Emirates Stadium on a long-term contract sees him become the most expensive English player in history and follows on from the former Irons captain having guided his old club to victory in the Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina. Earlier on Saturday, Rice had penned an open letter to West Ham fans, revealing the desire of playing in the Champions League – which Arsenal will next season – was one of the reasons behind his “tough” decision to leave. West Ham’s joint-chairman David Sullivan confirmed last month the east London club had a gentleman’s agreement with Rice to allow him to leave this summer after the player turned down the offer of a highly-lucrative new contract. Rice made 245 appearances for the Irons, with his last helping secure a first trophy since 1980. “This club and its supporters will always be in my heart and forever a part of who I am,” Rice said. “Ultimately, though, it has only ever been about my ambition to play at the very highest level of the game. “Playing on the opposite team to West Ham for the first time will be an unusual experience. “I’m not sure yet exactly how I will feel, but I also know you will all understand and respect that my professional loyalties have to now lie with my new club.” Rice is the latest addition to an Arsenal squad which has already been strengthened over the summer, with the arrival of Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber having been confirmed on Friday. German international Kai Havertz has moved from Chelsea, while the Gunners have also seen France defender William Saliba and Reiss Nelson commit their futures to the club on new long-term contracts. With Granit Xhaka having left to join Bayer Leverkusen, the arrival of Rice will further bolster Mikel Areta’s midfield options as Arsenal look to close the gap on Manchester City after finishing runners-up in the Premier League last season. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Proud Alex Fitzpatrick has no issue being billed as brother of major-winner Matt How Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal compares with other big-money transfers Carlos Alcaraz: Wimbledon final against Djokovic will be best moment of my life
2023-07-15 20:53
Ukraine Russia war – live: Wagner mercenaries ‘arrive in Belarus’ as Putin sacks top commander
Wagner mercenaries are arriving in Belarus weeks after a failed rebellion against the Kremlin regime, it has been reported. A large convoy of around 60 vehicles, including large trucks and buses, were seen moving northwest to a camp in the village of Tsel, according to military monitoring group ‘Belarusian Gayun’. “A combination of factors indicates that this is a convoy of the Wagner PMCs [private military company], which entered Belarus from the Russian Federation at night in the Krichev area,” it said. Elsewhere, a top Russian commander appears to have been sacked for voicing concerns about the Kremlin’s war strategy in a sign of growing divisions between officers on the front line and the country’s military leadership. The 58th Combined Arms Army’s general-major Ivan Popov was dismissed after a leaked video showed him delivering a blistering attack on the Russian military leadership, whom he accused of “hitting us from the rear, viciously beheading the Army at the most difficult and intense moment”. Britain’s Ministry of Defence said the “comments draw attention to serious disaffection many officers likely harbour towards the senior military leadership.” Read More Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin ‘dead or in prison’ after Putin meeting, former US commander claims Russian general says he has been fired for telling truth about dire situation on Ukraine frontlines What to know about the harrowing Ukraine war doc '20 Days in Mariupol'
2023-07-15 20:51
The eye-watering sums behind Declan Rice’s record transfer to Arsenal
Declan Rice has become the most expensive British footballer in history with his long-awaited transfer from West Ham to Arsenal finally being completed. Rice was dropped from Chelsea’s academy aged 14 but he was picked up by West Ham where his determination and dedication shone through. He made his senior debut for the Hammers aged 18 before establishing himself as a key player in the team. After the retirement of Mark Noble last year, Rice was his natural successor as club captain, and finished his West Ham career lifting the club’s first piece of silverware since the 1980 FA Cup when they won the 2022/23 Europa Conference League. Now, after years of speculation, the energetic midfielder – who is a cornerstone of Gareth Southgate’s England team which reached the European Championship final in 2021 and World Cup quarter-finals last year – will make the step up to a club playing Champions League football when he joins Mikel Arteta’s Gunners. Here is a closer look at the eye-watering numbers involved. A record sum Arsenal are paying £105m for Rice to make the five-mile switch from the London Stadium to the Emirates Stadium, surpassing the £100m Manchester City paid Aston Villa for their captain Jack Grealish and setting a new record for a British player. And it will be narrowly short of the most expensive signing by a Premier League team, after Chelsea paid £105.6m for Argentina’s World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez in January. City played their part here, though: they fought for Rice’s signature and the ensuing bidding war forced Arsenal to come up with a huge, unrejectable offer. Clearly Arteta had made Rice his top priority to lead another title challenge this season, and after falling short to Pep Guardiola’s City in the league, he wasn’t going to be beaten in the transfer market too. That £105m fee is an initial £100m with a further £5m of potential add-ons, depending on Arsenal’s success during Rice’s stay at the club. A giant pay rise Rice will be getting a chunky bump in salary too. He was paid only £60,000 per week at West Ham, a generous annual salary for most but a small paycheque compared to many of his England peers, like Tottenham’s Harry Kane (£200,000 per week), Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford (£200,000), Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling (£350,000) and Grealish (£300,000). Rice turned down a new contract reportedly worth around £100,000 per week to stay at West Ham and is now set to earn £250,000 per week at Arsenal. That will see him vastly increase his annual salary from around £3m to £13m, and that is before endorsements and other earnings. He will be Arsenal’s second-highest earner behind only Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus (£265,000). Hourly rate Rice’s new £250,000-a-week salary works out at £36,000 per day, and £1,488 per hour. That’s not just during the working day but every hour round the clock, even when he’s asleep. And presumably, he sleeps well. Top earners For all Rice’s riches, he remains some way short of the best-paid Premier League stars. Manchester United’s Casemiro earns £350,000 per week, and even he is eclipsed by Manchester City’s star duo, Erling Haaland (£375,000) and top dog Kevin De Bruyne (£400,000). And yet De Bruyne seems thoroughly mistreated when you compare his pay packet to the three global superstars taking home far more. Kylian Mbappe is paid £1.6m per week by Paris Saint-Germain, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both take home around £3.5m each week, at Inter Miami and Al-Nassr respectively. Rice has some catching up to do. Read More Declan Rice signs for Arsenal in record £105m transfer deal How Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal compares with other big-money transfers Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber – this is Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal now How Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal compares with other big-money transfers Declan Rice confirms ‘tough’ West Ham departure with Arsenal move imminent Declan Rice leaves West Ham for record fee with Arsenal move imminent
2023-07-15 20:49
Last-gasp try as Argentina upset Australia 34-31
Juan Martin Gonzalez scored a last-minute try as Argentina clocked back-to-back victories over the Wallabies for the first time Saturday, in a stirring 34-31 win to ramp up...
2023-07-15 20:47
Declan Rice explains decision to join Arsenal
Declan Rice explains how Arsenal won the race for his signature.
2023-07-15 20:27
Who is Iida Tikka? Joe Biden's 'nasty' comment to Finnish reporter sparks massive backlash
Joe Biden's comments came in response to a query from the Finnish reporter during a press conference in Helsinki
2023-07-15 20:25
Who are Rex Heuermann's children? Suspected Gilgo Beach killer’s daughter Victoria was key team member at dad's premier NYC architecture firm
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2023-07-15 20:16
What is EMPOP? Understanding the DNA database used to track down Rex Heuermann
The EMPOP database has been credited in the 32-page document that details the evidence which helped officials to arrest Rex Heuermann
2023-07-15 20:16
Real Madrid confirm departure of defender on season-long La Liga loan
Real Madrid have confirmed the departure of a defender on a season-long loan.
2023-07-15 19:57
Pope approves Shanghai bishop as Vatican chides China for lack of consultation
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has approved a new bishop of Shanghai as the Vatican chided
2023-07-15 19:56
Rice confirms Hammers exit as English record move to Arsenal looms
Declan Rice said his desire to play at the "very highest level" lay behind his decision to leave West Ham for Arsenal in a transfer that is set to make him...
2023-07-15 19:52
Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed flirt with girls on Japan trip, Internet slams pro streamers for 'harassing women'
Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed approached several groups of Japanese girls on their trip to Tokyo Disneyland, making most of them laugh with their antics
2023-07-15 19:50
