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Arsenal confirm Declan Rice shirt number.
Declan Rice has finally been presented in an Arsenal jersey, and the team has confirmed which number will decorate the back of their record signing. This comes after a protracted romance, eye-watering bidding war, and endless wait over the last legal technicalities.
After West Ham chairman David Sullivan stated that the captain had been guaranteed a transfer the morning after his team won this year’s Europa Conference League, Rice’s departure from the club was no longer a question of if but when.
Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz have already joined for a total of more than £105 million, which is the same amount that West Ham demanded from Arsenal in exchange for Rice.
All Decked out in the famous red and white 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/dR2suqLK8i
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 15, 2023
The long-awaited statement announcing Rice’s arrival revealed that the 24-year-old would wear 41. Rice was randomly assigned the number at West Ham when he was promoted to the first team and stuck with the bulky digit even as he became a fixture of the starting XI.
DR41 🤩
🛍️ Pick up your very own Rice 41 shirt at Arsenal Direct 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 15, 2023
Rice has previously worn four when playing for the England national team but his compatriot Ben White is the owner of that shirt at Arsenal.
The former Chelsea academy player was introduced to his new Arsenal teammates alongside Timber on Saturday as the pair prepare to jet off for the American leg of the club’s pre-season tour. The Gunners began the run-up to next season with a friendly against Nurnberg on Thursday before either Timber or Rice had been unveiled. Havertz did feature in an uninspiring 1-1 draw.