Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber have pushed Arsenal’s summer spending above £200 million, while paperwork complications are hurting West Ham. Both Rice and Timber have signed to Arsenal before the team leaves for its US tour on Sunday, and Arsenal also acquired Kai Havertz for £65 million.
Although the £105 million deal has been agreed upon for eight days, it has not yet been signed. Sky Sports News reported earlier this week that West Ham is growing increasingly impatient with the delay.
Arsenal’s lawyers’ inability to complete the documentation on time is what’s holding up the process.
Rice has reportedly cleared his Arsenal physical, according to West Ham. He has been frequently practising while on vacation in Portugal.
Rice’s transfer to Arsenal is anticipated to be finalised before the team’s Sunday flight to the United States for their preseason tour.
Arsenal’s previous record buy, Nicolas Pepe from Lille for £72 million in 2019, will be surpassed by the terms of the new contract, which provide for an initial payment of £100 million and add-on payments of £5 million.
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, a £38 million acquisition from Ajax who has finished his medical and is awaiting the completion of the paperwork on a long-term deal, is another player whose signing by Arsenal is anticipated.
Timber will cost the Gunners £34 million up front, with the remaining money coming from performance-based bonuses.
Ben White primarily played the right back position last season, and Timber is being signed to replace that position. However, Timber can also play centre back, and Manchester United had previously shown interest in him.
