Declan Rice speaks on the effect of Arsenal transfer fee on his performance

Declan Rice has opened up on how the huge transfer fee paid when he signed for Arsenal from West Ham over the summer affected him. The Midfielder admitted he didn’t think he was worth £105m.

The England international was linked with a number of top Premier League clubs before he eventually settled for Arsenal.

Reflecting on the substantial nature of the transfer fee, Rice confessed to feeling the weight of the financial transaction. The colossal sum, a testament to his value in the transfer market, underscored the immense expectations that accompanied his move to Arsenal.

The midfielder, known for his remarkable performances on the field, acknowledged the immense financial investment made by Arsenal in securing his services.

The substantial price tag, he revealed, brought about a mix of emotions, as it not only highlighted his market value but also added pressure to perform consistently at the highest level.

Declan Rice on his transfer fee

Speaking about the transfer fee, Rice admitted to feeling the gravity of the situation, recognizing the substantial investment Arsenal had made in him. The weight of the fee, while indicative of his prowess as a player, also came with heightened expectations, placing an added level of responsibility on his shoulders to deliver outstanding performances match after match.

As he settled into his new role at Arsenal, Rice was cognizant of the tremendous financial commitment the club had made, which further fueled his determination to validate their faith in him through his on-field contributions.

‘It’s £100 million, it’s a lot of money, I could understand the pressure that comes with it,’ Rice said while on England duty during the current international break. ‘Not only the pressure you put on yourself but there’s an expectation of being bought for that much money.

‘People need to see performances straight away. I want to re-pay the club straight away, they have invested a lot of money in me, I need to prove why I can go there and change things.

‘When the transfer was going through I was very nervous because of the price tag. It’s natural to think about that. You’re a human being bought for £105 million, it doesn’t feel very normal!

‘But that was because of what I’d done at West Ham, what they valued me at. When I signed for Arsenal I just thought, “I just need to be Declan Rice“, be myself, don’t be any different, everything will go smoothly.’

Declan Rice / Visionhaus/GettyImages

The 24-year-old admits that there was a tricky period when he first moved across London, but that is normal for any switch of club and he quickly got over it.

He sympathizes with England teammate Jack Grealish, who also cost an incredible amount when he moved to Manchester City from Aston Villa, but has also gotten over that initial difficult time.

‘The first three weeks of pre-season were really tough in terms of the change,’ said Rice. ‘When you’re at a new job you start to feel really settled after a few weeks. That really feels the case now. In terms of the price tag, I don’t really think about it, I just play the games and try to play as well as possible.

‘I can see why Jack struggled maybe at the start – mentally. He was a £100 million footballer but as he wasn’t playing as much, it was probably as bit different for him. Now he’s flying and it’s the same for me.’