Three years ago Arsenal broke their transfer record to seal the signing of Declan Rice to the tune of £105m.
It was a transformative signing, one that played a pivotal part in taking Mikel Arteta’s project to the next level. As Josh Kroenke noted after they lifted the Premier League title in May, the midfielder’s arrival was a “big moment” for the club.
Since then, the Gunners have been a little more reserved in the transfer market, certainly when it comes to paying top dollar.
Of course, they had a big summer a year ago, but that was more about raising the floor of the squad and adding depth. Now, they must raise the ceiling again and find their next Rice.
Why Rice has been so transformative for Arsenal
In 2023, Rice had a decision to make. He had just won the Conference League with West Ham. It was the perfect ending to a lovely story in the east end of London.
Truthfully, though, he had outgrown that part of the world, it was time for bigger and better things. Much to the displeasure of every single Hammers supporter, he moved to Arsenal.
Manchester City were at the table too but Rice had been left totally and utterly convinced that Arteta was the right manager to help improve his game and help him lift silverware.
It would be fair to say that both parties have held up their end of the bargain. The Arsenal boss has helped take the England star’s game to the next level and Rice has ended their Premier League hoodoo. They are now Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years and their star midfielder is a big reason for why.
Since coming to the Emirates, the 27-year-old has become one of the best midfielders in the world and and he is virtually an everpresent figure in the Arsenal starting XI.
One of the most committed men in football, one of the biggest leaders, Rice has not just transformed Arsenal on the pitch but he’s also been a real focal point off it. He’s become a senior player in next to no time.
When he arrived in north London, he did so as a jovial character. He is still very much a joker in the pack but there is now a seriousness to his game. “It’s not done yet” he barked after their defeat to City in the league. Quite. Arsenal went onto win the whole thing.
He’s gone from an aggressive holding midfielder to a box-crashing number eight. He’s remarkably complete. His reading of the game is top-notch, he’s got elite ball-carrying qualities, he’s a monster in the duel and he now contributes regularly in the final third. In 2025/26, Rice scored five goals and supplied nine assists.
Very much one of the most recognisable players in the game right now, it’s time for Arsenal to repeat their Rice move three years on.
How Arsenal can sign a bigger game-changer than Rice
That move in 2023 helped carry the Arsenal project to the next level but if there is one thing that has been missing from Arteta’s tenure to date, it’s the lack of a major marquee signing in the final third.
This summer, that could all change. The Gunners hierarchy hope it will change.
They have long tracked Julian Alvarez at Atletico Madrid and he could easily cost the best part of £130m. Real Madrid have already seen a bid in that region knocked back. Atleti have no desire to sell to their biggest rivals.
Jose Mourinho is back at Real and rather predictably, it is already a circus. The Alverez saga is evidence of that. The Vinicius Junior saga is further evidence.
Out of contract at the Bernabeu in a year, the Brazilian is in discussions to renew his terms with the club but they are yet to find an agreement on his salary. As a result, Arsenal are exploring a jaw-dropping move for one of the biggest icons in the sport.
The latest on their pursuit comes courtesy of club insider Hand of Arsenal, who took to social media to reveal that the Premier League winner have “spoken to the camp of Vinicius Junior” and a move has been approved at all levels from Arteta, to Andrea Berta to Josh and Stan Kroenke. Arsenal are now said to be ready to launch a “serious offer” to secure the winger’s services.
If this move was completed, it would easily be the biggest in the club’s history, not just from a financial view – he is reportedly valued at £136m – but also from a playing point of view.
The simple fact of the matter is that Vini Jr is one of the game’s biggest stars. He finished second in the Ballon d’Or rankings in 2024 and has been heralded by Carlo Ancelotti as “the best player in the world” in recent years.
Much like when Rice joined, this move could set Arsenal on course for silverware. Arteta’s men have already won the league title but the Champions League is next and Vini Jr has the potential and the talent to take the Gunners to their first triumph in that competition.
Compared to the elite footballers, he is up there with the very best. For club and country in 2026, only Harry Kane (40) and Kylian Mbappe (24) have scored more than the iconic Brazilian’s tally of 22.
Top scorers for club & country in 2026 | |
|---|---|
Player | Goal tally |
1) Harry Kane | 40 |
2) Kylian Mbappe | 24 |
3) Vinicius Junior | 22 |
4) Deniz Undav | 21 |
5) Ousmane Dembele | 21 |
6) Viktor Gyokeres | 20 |
7) Erling Haaland | 20 |
8) Mikey Oyarzabal | 20 |
He is such a prolific scorer of goals from the flanks, netting over 20 times in each of his last five seasons. Last term, he scored 22 and assisted ten. That would have made him the top scorer at Arsenal, trumping Viktor Gyokeres by one. He was also level with the Gunners’ top assister; Leandro Trossard.
Rice was a signing that really made people stand up and take notice. A move for Vinicius Junior would do exactly the same. It would send shockwaves across Europe.
