Declan Rice (24) expressed being “very nervous” about his high-value transfer to Arsenal from West Ham United.
Upon arriving in North London, the midfielder was aware of the club’s anticipation for him to make an immediate impact.
Arsenal secured the services of the England international in July for a record-breaking fee of 105 million pounds ($130.84 million), surpassing the previous record set by Manchester City’s payment of 100 million pounds for Jack Grealish from Aston Villa in 2021.
“When the transfer was going through, I was very nervous because of the price tag,” Rice told reporters ahead of England’s final European Championship qualifier against North Macedonia.
“You’re a human being bought for 105 million pounds, it doesn’t feel very normal. But that was because of what I’d done at West Ham, what they valued me at.
“It’s 100 million pounds; it’s a lot of money. I could understand the pressure that comes with it.
“Not only the pressure you put on yourself but there’s an expectation of being bought for that much money we need to see performances straight away. They have invested a lot of money in me, I need to prove why I can go there and change things.”
Rice additionally mentioned that he comprehended the challenges faced by his England teammate Grealish, who achieved a treble with City last season but might have encountered difficulties initially following his transfer.
“He was a 100 million-pound 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,” added Rice.