Declan Rice is preparing for a medical examination at Arsenal after cutting his holiday short to return to London.
The midfielder, who currently plays for West Ham and the England national team, is on the verge of completing a record-breaking transfer to the Emirates Stadium.
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This comes after a deal between the two clubs, which is reportedly worth £105 million, and would make Rice the most expensive British footballer in history.
Arsenal managed to secure the agreement after Manchester City withdrew from the race to sign him.
The final details of the transfer, including payment structure, are currently being sorted out before Rice can proceed with the necessary formalities.
He is scheduled to undergo a medical with Arsenal, after which he will sign a long-term contract with the club.
Rice wasted no time in returning from his holiday in Dubai, where he was winding down after his international duties with England.
He flew back to the UK and is eager to swiftly finalize the move.
In a heartwarming moment, Rice was spotted playing football in the backyard with the children of West Ham hero Mark Noble.
The young players, named Lenny and Honey, took turns defending while Rice showcased his skills.
Once Rice completes his medical and fulfills his club media commitments, he is expected to become Arsenal’s second signing of the summer.
This comes shortly after the arrival of Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £65 million.
The Gunners are also set to secure the services of Dutch defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax.
The transfer marks the culmination of a long pursuit by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who reportedly held a secret meeting with Rice back in January.
Rice was pleasantly surprised by Arteta’s plans to develop his game during his time at the Emirates Stadium.
Once all the formalities are concluded, Rice can eagerly anticipate joining his new teammates.
Arsenal’s pre-season training is set to begin soon, with players involved in international competitions during the summer expected to return on July 8th.
The team’s first pre-season match is against German side Nurnberg on July 13th, followed by a clash with the MLS All-Stars a week later.
Rice’s highly anticipated competitive debut for Arsenal could potentially take place in the Community Shield against his former biders, Manchester City, next month.
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His arrival at Arsenal may also lead to some departures from the club, with former captain Granit Xhaka heavily linked with a move back to Germany.
Bayer Leverkusen has also expressed interest in Xhaka. There is also speculation surrounding the future of Thomas Partey.
