Transfer: Why Arsenal may refuse Declan Rice wearing favourite shirt number

West Ham captain, Declan Rice, may not be able to wear his favourite No.41 shirt when he joins Arsenal, according to Goal.

Rice is close to sealing a big-money move across London after the Gunners saw a record £105m deal accepted.

That fee will make the English midfielder the most expensive transfer in the club’s history.

But he may not be allowed to take his favourite No.41 shirt at the Emirates. It is a number he has worn at West Ham for a number of years.

The North London club generally does not allow players to pick numbers other than the designated ‘senior numbers’.

Such an instance happened in the recent past when Super Eagles star, Alex Iwobi, could not take his preferred No.45 jersey and had to settle for the No.17 instead.