Rice makes first Arsenal start

Rice starts in friendly loss to Man United

Declan Rice made his first start for Arsenal as the Gunners lost 2-0 to Manchester United in a pre-season friendly at the MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho gave the Red Devils victory.

Rice, who joined Arsenal, runners up in last season’s Premier League, in a £105million move had made his first appearance for the club from the bench in a resounding 5-0 victory over MLS All-Stars on Wednesday.

Rice’s transfer is highest ever between British clubs

Rice’s signing is the most expensive between two British clubs and is just short of the overall British record transfer fee with Chelsea paying £106.8m for midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in January.

Rice has penned  a five-year deal at Arsenal which runs until 2028, with the option of a further year. He  will wear the No 41 shirt.

By joining Arsenal Rice brings to an end a ten-year period at West Ham, having progressed from the club’s youth team to club captain. His final act as a Hammer was to lift the club’s first trophy in 43 years when they won the Europa Conference League final. Rice made his senior debut in 2017 and went on to clock up 245 appearances for West Ham.

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