West Ham "Promised" To Let Declan Rice Leave After He Rejected Eight-Figure Salary Offer

West Ham United chairman David Sullivan has admitted that Declan Rice wants to leave. Sullivan also said that Rice turned down a £10.4 million salary to stay.

West Ham United chairman David Sullivan has admitted that Declan Rice has likely played his last game for the club.

Rice captained West Ham to victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina on Wednesday night.

That was the 24-year-old's 245th senior appearance for the Hammers.

Rice is still on the contract that he signed as a teenager in 2018.

That deal is due to expire next summer but it includes an option for West Ham to extend it by an extra year, meaning Rice effectively has 24 months left to run on his current contract.

Sullivan revealed that Rice rejected the offer of a new deal 18 months ago, despite it including an eight-figure salary.

According to Sullivan, Rice said no to a pay rise that would have seen him earn £10.4 million per year.

But the England midfielder still looks set to leave West Ham with Sullivan's full blessing.

Declan Rice pictured wearing his UEFA Europa Conference League winners medal the day after leading West Ham to victory over Fiorentina in the 2023 final in Prague :: IMAGO/PA Images/Tim Goode

When asked by talkSPORT if Wednesday's final was Rice's last game for West Ham, Sullivan replied: "I think it has to be.

"We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going."

On Rice's contractual situation, Sullivan added: "You can't ask for a man who has committed more to us this season.

"In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement, or several replacements. It's not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000 a week 18 months ago. He turned it down.

"It's cost him £10m to stay at West Ham in that time [in lost wages]. And he wants to go. You can't keep a player who doesn't want to be there. The offers will start to come today.

"There are three or four clubs who have shown interest but, out of respect to West Ham, while we're still playing, you don't make offers for players."

Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are all said to be keen on signing Rice this summer.