Declan Rice, the 24-year-old midfielder for West Ham United, has been the subject of intense transfer speculation as Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester City battle it out to secure his services. However, West Ham is holding out for a £100 million valuation, which has so far deterred both clubs. In this article, we take a closer look at Rice’s contract situation and his time at West Ham.
When does Declan Rice’s contract expire with West Ham?
Rice’s contract with West Ham is set to expire in the summer of 2024. However, the club has the option to extend his contract by a further year, meaning that Rice’s contract effectively lasts until 2025. This puts West Ham in a strong position to demand a huge transfer fee for their star player and they will not stand in his way if a Champions League club comes calling – as long as their price tag is met.
Despite his love for the club, Rice has so far rejected all efforts to sign a new contract extension at the London Stadium. West Ham owner David Sullivan revealed he rejected a new deal 18 months ago, turning down the chance to earn £200,000 per week – a significant increase on his reported current salary of £60,000 per week.
Speaking about Rice’s transfer situation, manager David Moyes expressed his desire to keep his captain at the club but conceded Rice may be set for a new challenge. Moyes said back in May: “We hope Dec stays. We would love him to be a West Ham player but we are aware that might not be the case. That is one of the scenarios. Our plans are to have Dec here but we are also fully aware there is a good chance that we won’t have him.”
How long has Declan Rice been at West Ham?
Rice joined West Ham’s academy as a 14-year-old in 2014 having been released by Chelsea’s academy, with whom he had been with since he was seven. He signed his first professional contract with the club a year later and made his debut for the first team on the final day of the 2016/17 season.
Since then, Rice has gone on to make over 200 appearances for the club during which time he established himself as one of the finest midfielders in the Premier League. Following the retirement of Mark Noble in May 2022, Rice was named West Ham’s new captain. That role saw him lift the Europa Conference League trophy back in May as West Ham edged out Fiorentina 2-1 in the final in Prague – the only trophy of Rice’s career to date.
Conclusion
Declan Rice is a highly sought-after midfielder who has been linked with a move away from West Ham United. However, the club is holding out for a £100 million valuation, which has so far deterred both Arsenal and Manchester City. Rice’s contract with West Ham is set to expire in the summer of 2024, but the club has the option to extend it by a further year. Despite his love for the club, Rice has so far rejected all efforts to sign a new contract extension, and it remains to be seen whether he will stay at West Ham or move on to pastures new.