Adidas have released a star-studded video to mark Declan Rice signing for Arsenal.
The Gunners have confirmed the signing of Rice from West Ham for £100million plus £5million in add-ons, after months of speculation.
The club announced the statement move hours after the 24-year-old issued a heartfelt letter to West Ham fans, stressing how “tough” a decision it had been to leave the club where he had spent a decade.
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The initial fee for Rice equals the £100million Manchester City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish.
As part of a low-key live announcement on YouTube, Rice said: "I've been looking at Arsenal over the last couple of seasons and the trajectory they've been on.
"Not last season but the season before, they [only] finished fifth, but you could see the style of play Mikel was implementing. Last season was an outstanding season, blowing pretty much every team out of the water with the exception of Manchester City."
However, Adidas have released a clip of their own, to mark the England international’s arrival at the north London club.
As seen above in the minute-long video, actor Michael Ward, presenter Laura Woods, and rapper and Manchester United fan Stormzy all feature, with the former pleading for Rice to join the club, and the latter begging him not to.
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Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Ian Wright makes an appearance, as does new signing Alessia Russo, with both heralding the merits of moving to the north London side.
Members of the Arsenal's current men’s team also play a part, with Eddie Nketiah promising Rice his mum's Jollof rice upon arrival and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale enthusiastically enquiring when the pair "are getting a round in” (a golf reference rather than a drinking one.)
Fans were quick to heap praise on the Adidas video.
One said: "Wish we had Adidas' media team man, this is actually an entertaining announcement."
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Another wrote on Twitter: "Why couldn't we announce Rice like this? This is (fire emoji).
A third wrote: Amazing video. Amazing that Declan Rice has joined Arsenal. I wish him a long and happy career at the #Arsenal under Mikel Arteta!"
Topics: Football, Arsenal, Premier League, Declan Rice, Laura Woods, Aaron Ramsdale, Eddie Nketiah, Fan Reactions
Chris Byfield