Declan Rice pens emotional West Ham farewell message as Arsenal complete dream £105m transfer

Declan Rice has bid farewell to West Ham ahead of his transfer to Arsenal this summer. The 24-year-old midfielder was heavily linked with an exit from the Hammers for a couple years before eventually completing a British record move to the Emirates Stadium.

In an emotional message on Instagram, Rice wrote: «I can’t believe an incredible 10 years has come to an end. West Ham has been a massive part of my life on and off the pitch. Saying goodbye is never easy.

»I’ve had some unbelievable highs, none higher than that night in Prague. I’ve also grown as lot as a person, a player and as a captain. From the very first moment I captained the side, under the guidance of Nobes, I have felt nothing other than pride & passion.

«As a captain, delivering that European trophy was the icing on the cake. My connection with the fans means everything to me and my family. You have treated us like one of your own since the day I arrived. Thank you.

»Everyone knows how special West Ham is as a club that goes for all managers, coaches, back room staff and of course, my team mates. Thank you for some amazing memories and some of the best days of my life. Love you all. Love Dec."

The England international also penned an open letter on the official West Ham website where he took a deep dive into his career in East London. From going on trial with the club at the age of 14 to the Europa Conference League final earlier this summer, Rice opened his heart to West Ham supporters.

Despite the arrival of Jorginho in January, football.london understands that Rice remained a priority signing for Mikel Arteta. After just missing out on the Premier League title last term, the Arsenal boss has been keen to further bolster his side and narrow the gap with