| Date of Birth | 14 January 1999 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Kingston, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | England |
| Height | 188 cm |
| Weight | 80 kg |
Biography
Early Years and Academies
Declan Rice was born on 14 January 1999 in Kingston upon Thames (London). He began his football journey at the Chelsea academy, which he joined at the age of seven, but he was released by the club at 14. In 2013, after a trial, he joined the West Ham United academy, where he quickly progressed thanks to his persistence and hard work.
West Ham United
In 2015, Rice signed his first professional contract with West Ham, and in May 2017 he made his Premier League debut. By 2018, he had become a key first-team player, demonstrating maturity in the defensive midfield position. In the 2018/19 season, he scored his first Premier League goal — the winning goal against Arsenal. In 2020, he was named the club’s Player of the Season (Hammer of the Year) for the first time, and he went on to win the award twice more.
In 2022, Rice replaced Mark Noble as West Ham captain. Under his leadership, the team won the 2022/23 UEFA Europa Conference League — the club’s first European trophy in decades. Rice was named Player of the Tournament. He made 245 appearances for West Ham and became one of the few captains in the club’s history to win an international trophy.
Transfer to Arsenal
In July 2023, Rice joined Arsenal for a club-record £100 million (potentially rising to £105 million with bonuses), becoming one of the most expensive English footballers in history. In his debut season, he quickly secured a place in the starting lineup. In September 2023, he scored the winning goal against Manchester United, and in February 2024, he scored against his former club.
The 2024/25 season became one of the brightest in his career. In April 2025, he scored two direct free-kicks in the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, becoming the first player in the competition’s history to score two free-kick goals in a knockout-stage match. At the end of the season, he was named Arsenal’s Player of the Season, included in the Champions League Team of the Season, and nominated for the Premier League Player of the Year award.
In the 2025/26 season, he continued to be a key figure for the team, regularly contributing goals and delivering consistent performances in midfield.
International Career
At international level, Rice initially represented the Republic of Ireland, making his senior debut in 2018. In 2019, he switched sporting nationality and became a player for the England national team. Since then, he has represented England at Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, and Euro 2024, finishing as a European Championship runner-up twice.
Personal Life
Declan Rice grew up in a family with Irish roots: his paternal grandparents are from County Cork. He has two older brothers.
He has been close friends with Mason Mount since childhood — they met at the Chelsea academy and have maintained a strong relationship throughout their professional careers.
In 2022, Rice became a father — he had a son with his long-term partner Lauren Fryer. In honor of his son, he got a tattoo with his name. In 2024, Lauren faced online abuse and subsequently removed her social media posts. Rice publicly supported her, stating: “She’s the love of my life, and I don’t need an upgrade.”
In 2019, Rice issued a public apology for old social media comments related to the IRA that he had made during his teenage years.
Interesting Facts
- He was released from the Chelsea academy at 14 but became one of the most expensive English players in history.
- The first West Ham captain since Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds to lead the club to a major European trophy.
- Won the Europa Conference League in the 2022/23 season and was named Player of the Tournament.
- Became the first player in Champions League history to score two direct free-kicks in a knockout-stage match.
- Represented both Ireland and England at senior level — the first such case since the 19th century.
- Started his career as a classic defensive midfielder but gradually developed into a more versatile box-to-box player who regularly contributes to attacking plays.
