Declan Rice has left West Ham United ahead of his highly anticipated move to Arsenal in what is set to become a British record transfer. The 24-year-old England international midfielder had been heavily linked with a move away from West Ham this summer, with Arsenal emerging as the frontrunners for his signature.
The deal, worth £105 million, has been in the works for more than a week, but delays in finalizing the paperwork had caused some frustration for all parties involved. However, West Ham have now confirmed Rice’s departure, and the official announcement from Arsenal is expected to follow shortly.
Rice’s move to Arsenal will see him become the most expensive British player in history, surpassing the £100 million fee Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish in 2021. The Gunners are clearly determined to bolster their midfield options and see Rice as a crucial addition to their squad.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have ended their interest in Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo. The Portuguese international spent the second half of last season on loan at Bayern Munich, but it seems that neither Bayern nor Barcelona are keen on pursuing a permanent deal for Cancelo. The 29-year-old’s fallout with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has left his future uncertain, with no clear destination in sight.
In other transfer news, Manchester United have reportedly joined Manchester City in the race to sign Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard. The 25-year-old Frenchman is believed to be one of several players that Bayern have listed for transfer as they aim to finance a move for Tottenham striker Harry Kane. United’s interest in Pavard suggests that they are actively looking to strengthen their defensive options this summer.
Furthermore, Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo is said to be closing in on a potential move to Fiorentina. The 26-year-old Brazilian spent last season on loan at Liverpool but struggled with injuries and lack of game time. Juventus are willing to let Arthur go, and Fiorentina appears to be the most likely destination for him.
These are just some of the transfer rumours circulating in the football world today. Stay tuned as we bring you more updates on the latest transfer news and gossip from around the globe.
