West Ham are ready to sign contracts to seal the deal for the transfer of their captain to Arsenal. After the attorneys for Arsenal have approved the final contract language, the Hammers will sign and Rice will finalize his move to north London. West Ham captain Rice’s transfer to Arsenal is anticipated to be finalized before the team’s Sunday flight to the United States for their preseason tour. A club-record £105 million will be spent on the midfielder’s transfer, with an initial payment of £100 million and £5 million in add-ons. The transaction would surpass Arsenal’s previous record acquisition, Nicolas Pepe from Lille for £72 million in 2019.
Rice’s acquisition will fall just short of Chelsea’s £106.8 million price tag for Enzo Fernandez in January, which established the British transfer record. Jurrien Timber’s acquisition is also anticipated by Arsenal, who aim to have the defender in their lineup for Thursday’s friendly against FC Nurnberg. Prior to his £38 million transfer from Ajax, Timber has finished his medical, and the paperwork for a long-term deal is being finalized. Timber will cost the Gunners £34 million up front, with the remaining money coming from performance-based bonuses. The right-back position, which was primarily played by Ben White last season, is where Timber will play.
