Declan Rice has spoken out about his summer transfer from West Ham United to London rivals Arsenal.
According to Sky Sports (17 July), the England midfielder moved from East London to North London for a cost of £105 million. The 24-year-old has expressed sympathy for Jack Grealish, who joined Manchester City from Aston Villa for £100 million in 2021 [BBC Sport, 15 August 2021].
“When the transfer was going through I was very nervous because of the price tag,” Rice told the Telegraph (19 November).
“The first three weeks of pre-season were really tough in terms of the change. When you’re at a new job you start to feel really settled after a few weeks. That really feels the case now.
“I can see why Jack struggled maybe at the start — mentally. He was a £100m footballer but as he wasn’t playing as much, it was probably a bit different for him. Now he’s flying and it’s the same for me.”
Requiring a substantial sum, West Ham faced a significant battle during the summer transfer window to potentially part ways with Rice. Numerous top European clubs expressed interest, with Arsenal ultimately securing the midfielder’s services. Since joining, Rice has seamlessly integrated into the club, delivering standout performances under manager Mikel Arteta.
Adapting swiftly to his new environment, Rice’s departure prompted West Ham to make rapid moves. They acquired James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez from Southampton and Ajax, respectively, to help fill the void. Both players are enjoying impressive seasons in claret and blue.
In their recent encounter, West Ham emerged victorious against Arsenal, winning 3-1 in the League Cup round of 16 earlier this month, leaving the Hammers content with the outcome.
