Arsenal is set to complete four deals in 24 hours following the agreement with West Ham and Ajax for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber respectively.
The Gunners will bolster the squad by securing the signings of Declan Rice from West Ham United, Jurrien Timber from Ajax, and tying down promising academy prospect Ethan Nwaneri to a scholarship contract. Additionally, winger Reiss Nelson is set to ink a new long-term deal with the club.
After falling short of their Premier League title aspirations last season, Mikel Arteta wasted no time in pursuing new additions to strengthen the squad. The transfer activity began last week with the acquisition of Chelsea midfielder Kai Havertz in a £65 million deal. Havertz, who signed a five-year contract, is expected to add depth to Arsenal’s midfield despite primarily operating as a forward during his time at Chelsea.
However, it is the agreement with West Ham for the signing of England international Declan Rice that stole the headlines. Arsenal had identified Rice as their priority target earlier this year and reportedly faced stiff competition from several top clubs.
Declan Rice will join Arsenal for a British transfer fee (Image credit: Getty Images)
Negotiations with West Ham proved challenging, with the Hammers demanding £100 million for their captain. Nevertheless, Arsenal have struck a record-breaking deal worth £105 million, including add-ons for Rice. The 23-year-old will undergo a medical examination on Friday, paving the way for an official announcement.
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In a separate move, Arsenal turned their attention to bolstering their defensive line, setting sights on Dutch defender Jurrien Timber. The Gunners have agreed a fee of £40 million with Ajax for the 22-year-old. Timber’s arrival is expected to fortify Arsenal’s backline and provide crucial depth for the upcoming season.
Jurrien Timber will join Arsenal from Ajax for a fee of £40 million (Image credit: Getty Images)
While securing new signings has been the focus, Arsenal has also prioritized retaining key players within their ranks. Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli and Aaron Ramsdale have all put pen to paper on long term deals in recent months.
Promising academy prospect Ethan Nwaneri has also committed his future to the club by signing a scholarship contract, with a first professional deal awaiting him when he turns 17. The highly rated Nwaneri had attracted attention from other top English clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester City, but ultimately chose to continue his development at Arsenal.
Moreover, 13 other first-year scholars, including the highly regarded Myles Lewis-Skelly, have signed scholarship deals ahead of the forthcoming 2023/24 season, demonstrating Arsenal’s commitment to nurturing young talent.
Completing a whirlwind 24 hours, Arsenal is set to finalize a new four-year contract with winger Reiss Nelson, which will keep him at the club until 2027, with an option for an additional year. Nelson, who was out of contract on June 30, reached an agreement with the Gunners last month, highlighting his desire to continue his career at the Emirates Stadium.
Next on the Arsenal shopping list is Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.
