Declan Rice

Declan Rice(born 14 January 1999) is an English professionalfootballerwho plays as adefensive midfielderforPremier LeagueclubArsenaland theEngland national team. Known for his stamina, strength, ball carrying ability and tackling, he is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.
Rice began his professional career atWest Ham United, having been released byChelsea's academy, and established himself as a key first-team player by 2017. In 2022, he succeededMark Nobleasclub captain, and led the club to aUEFA Europa Conference Leaguetitle the following year, as well as being named the competition's Player of the Season. After making 245 appearances for West Ham, Rice was signed by Arsenal in July 2023 for a club record fee of £100 million, making him thejoint-most-expensive English playerin history.
Eligible to play for England or theRepublic of Ireland, Rice represented theRepublic of Irelandinternationally at both youth and senior levels prior to 2019. He subsequently changed his national allegiance and made himself available for selection by England. Rice made his England debut in 2019 and has represented the country atUEFA Euro 2020, the2022 FIFA World Cup, andUEFA Euro 2024.
Declan Ricewas born on 14 January 1999inKingston upon Thames, Greater London, where he was raised.His paternal grandparents were fromDouglas, County Cork, in Ireland.He joined theacademyofChelseain 2006, as a seven-year-old.In 2013, after his release at age 14, he joined theacademyofWest Ham Unitedafter a trial period in the spring.West Ham United AcademycoachTrevor Bumsteadstated it was Rice's determination and persistence that helped him break through the ranks at West Ham.Rice won thePremier League Cupin2016with the under-21s and thePremier League 2 Division 2in2020with the under-23s.
On 16 December 2015, two years after joining West Ham United at youth level, Rice signed his first professional contract with the club.Rice received his first call-up to the West Ham senior squad for the games againstSunderlandandEvertonin April 2017, after impressing in the under-23 team.He made his senior debut againstBurnleyon the last day of the2016–17 Premier Leagueseason, coming on as a 91st-minute substitute forEdimilson Fernandesin a 2–1 away win,five days after captaining the under-23s to promotion with a 2–1 win away toNewcastle United.Hisfirst-teamdebut came on 19 August 2017 in a 3–2 defeat atSouthampton.In April 2018, Rice was named as runner-up for the 2017–18Hammer of the Yearaward behindMarko Arnautović.
On 22 December 2018, he made his 50th appearance for West Ham, becoming the first player to do so while still a teenager sinceMichael Carrick.On 28 December 2018, Rice signed a new contract until 2024 with the option of an additional year.On 12 January 2019, Rice scored his first goal for West Ham and was namedman of the matchin a 1–0 win againstArsenal, in West Ham's 50th Premier League game at theLondon Stadium.On 20 April, Rice was named on the shortlist for thePFA Young Player of the Yearaward, which was eventually awarded to Rice's England teammateRaheem Sterling.At the end of the 2018–19 season, he was named the Players' Player of the Year and won the award for Individual Performance of the Season, for his match winning game against Arsenal, and was named the Young Hammer of the Year for the third-consecutive season.
On 28 December 2019, Rice captained West Ham for the first time, at age 20, in a 2–1 home loss againstLeicester City.He scored his first and only Premier League goal of the season on 17 July 2020, with an outside-the-box strike againstWatford, in a 3–1 win.In the 2019–20 season, Rice played every minute of West Ham's 38 league games. He was in the Premier League's top five players for both tackles and interceptions, leading West Ham players in both categories and making more passes than any other teammate. He was namedHammer of the Yearfor the first time in 2020.
On 15 February 2021, Rice scored his first goal of the season when he converted a penalty and put the team in the lead againstSheffield Unitedin a home league win that ended 3–0.In April 2021, having played in all of West Ham's games so far in the2020–21 season, Rice was ruled out for four weeks with a knee injury picked up on international duty with England.
On 16 September 2021, Rice made his European debut and scored his debut European goal in a 2–0 away victory overDinamo Zagrebin theEuropa League.On 9 May 2022, Rice was named as Hammer of the Year for a second time.Following West Ham's Europa League campaign, which saw them reach the semi-final, Rice was named in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League Team of the Year alongside teammateCraig Dawson.Following the retirement ofMark Noblein May 2022, Rice was named as captain of West Ham.
On 16 October 2022, Rice opened his goalscoring account for the season, scoring a curling effort from 22 yards (20 m) to secure West Ham a point in a 1–1 draw against Southampton.On 20 April 2023, Rice scored West Ham's third in a 4–1 win in theUEFA Europa Conference Leagueagainst Belgian sideGent, carrying the ball for more than 50 metres (55 yd) before finishing past Gent goalkeeperDavy Roef, resulting in a goal labelled "perhaps the standout strike of Rice's career" byThe Daily Telegraph.In May 2023, he was again named Hammer of the Year, for the2022–23 season.On 8 June 2023, Rice was named as the Europa Conference League's player of the season byUEFAas Rice captained West Ham to their first major European trophy since 1965 after a 2–1 win againstFiorentinain thefinala day prior.During the 2022–23 season, Rice won possession more than any other Premier League player. He also made the most interceptions of all Premier League players.
Rice left West Ham in July 2023, joiningArsenal. He played 245 games for West Ham, scoring 15 goals. He is one of only three West Ham captains, along withBobby MooreandBilly Bonds, to have captained the club to a major trophy.West Ham chairmanDavid Sullivansaid that the club did not want to sell the player, stating that they wished to build the team around him, but that Rice had made it clear he wanted to move on.Rice said of the transfer: "Ultimately, though, it has only ever been about my ambition to play at the very highest level of the game."
On 15 July 2023, Rice signed for Premier League club Arsenal on a long-term contract.It was reported that the transfer fee was a club-record initial £100m, potentially rising by £5m, in add-ons, making him themost expensive English player, equalling the previous record held byJack Grealish.The structure of the transfer was given as West Ham receiving £50m immediately and a further £50m in the summer of 2024. They will also receive £1m every time Arsenal qualify for a place in theChampions Leagueduring his time at the club and £1m if he plays 60 per-cent of games in a season, with those payments capped at £5m.
Rice made his Arsenal debut on 6 August againstManchester Cityin the2023 FA Community Shield, which Arsenal won 4–1 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.On 12 August, Rice started in Arsenal's opening match of the2023–24 Premier Leagueseason, a 2–1 home win overNottingham Forest.On 3 September, he scored his first goal for Arsenal, in stoppage time to grant his team a 2–1 lead againstManchester Unitedin a match which ended in a 3–1 win.
Rice was announced as a nominee forThe Best FIFA Men's Playerbased on his performances for both London clubs and the national team.On 11 February, Rice scored his first goal against his former club, West Ham United, in a 6–0 victory at London Stadium, which was West Ham's worst home defeat in the league since 1963 againstBlackburn Rovers.
Although born in London, Rice was eligible to play for Ireland as his paternal grandparents are fromCork.On 19 March 2017, Rice was namedRepublic of Ireland U17player of the year.On 23 May 2017, only days after hisPremier Leaguedebut, Rice was named in theRepublic of Irelandsquad to play friendlies againstMexicoandUruguayand a World Cup qualifier at home toAustria.He made his senior debut on 23 March 2018 in a 1–0 defeat toTurkey.
In August 2018, Rice was omitted from the squad to playWalesby managerMartin O'Neill, who said that Rice was considering switching to play forEnglandafter being approached by them.By November 2018, having been omitted from three squads selected by O'Neill, Rice said he was no closer in deciding whether to play for Ireland or England.In December 2018, Rice met with new Ireland managerMick McCarthyand his assistant,Robbie Keane. McCarthy said that Rice was a potential future captain of Ireland and that he would build the team around Rice should he decide to play for the country.
On 13 February 2019, Rice pledged his future to England.On 5 March, his change of allegiance was confirmed byFIFA.On 13 March, he was called up by England for their forthcomingUEFA Euro 2020 qualifyingmatches against theCzech RepublicandMontenegro.He made his debut on 22 March as a 63rd-minute substitute against the Czech Republic atWembley Stadium.
On 25 March 2019, England managerGareth Southgatehanded Rice his first start for the national side during a 5–1 victory over Montenegro.Following Rice's successfulseason, he was handed a place in theEngland squadfor the2019 UEFA Nations League Finals.In September 2019, Rice said that he had received onlinedeath threatsafter switching allegiance.He was the first player to play for both countries sinceJack Reynoldsin the 1890s.Rice was named in theEngland squadforUEFA Euro 2020.Rice played in all seven games for England at Euro 2020 where they finished runner-up in the final toItaly.
Rice was included in the Englandsquadfor the2022 FIFA World Cup.He started all five matches as England reached the quarter-finals, losing 2–1 toFrance.
Ahead of his 50th cap for the senior side, it was announced that Rice would captain England for the first time, againstBelgiumin March 2024.On 6 June, he was named in England's 26-man squad forUEFA Euro 2024.He started in central midfield in the team's opening match againstSerbia, playing the full 90 minutes as England won 1–0 to go top ofGroup C.
Rice plays predominantly as a defensive midfielder and is known for his athleticism and tackling ability. In more recent times, he has begun to build a reputation as a more complete midfielder due to his ball carrying skills and ability to score goals from range, which has seen him be deployed in a more offensive role on occasion as anumber eight.He has also been praised in the media for his passing ability.
Rice has been a close friend ofMason Mountsince childhood from when they played together at Chelsea's academy.His cousin,Finley Munroe, is also a professional footballer forAston Villa.
In March 2019, Rice apologised for pro-Irish Republican Armycomments he made on social media in 2015.
In August 2022, Rice confirmed the birth of his first child, a son, with long-term girlfriend, Lauren Fryer.
West Ham United
Arsenal
England
Individual