Everything to know about Declan Rice, who overcame Chelsea academy rejection to become Arsenal's midfield leader, exploring the midfielder's net worth, key stats, family life and recent heroics against Real Madrid.
Who is Declan Rice?
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Declan Rice is a prominent English professional footballer who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for Arsenal and the England national team.
Known for his strong tackling abilities, tactical intelligence and impressive passing range, the midfielder has quickly established himself as one of the Premier League's leading players in his position.
Rice began his professional career at West Ham United following his release from the Chelsea academy and captained the club before making a high-profile move to Arsenal in the summer of 2023.
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Rice is also a key figure for the England national team, having represented his country since 2019 after switching allegiance from the Republic of Ireland.
Declan Rice Age
Born on January 14, 1999, Declan Rice is 26 years old (as of April 2025).
Declan Rice Height
Declan Rice is 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) tall.
Where was Declan Rice born?
Declan Rice was born in Kingston upon Thames, which is in Greater London, England.
Declan Rice Nationality
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Declan Rice is English. He was born and raised in London, England, and represents the England national team.
However, he has Irish heritage through his paternal grandparents, who were from County Cork in Ireland.
Due to this heritage, Rice was eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland and did so at youth level and even made three senior appearances in friendly matches.
In 2019, he switched his international allegiance to England and has since become a key player for the Three Lions.
Rice has since stated that he considers himself of mixed nationality, being a proud Englishman with a strong connection to his Irish heritage
Declan Rice Biography
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Declan Rice, born on January 14, 1999, in Greater London, has rapidly become a pivotal figure in English football.
His early footballing journey began at the Chelsea academy in 2006 at seven. However, his time with the Blues ended abruptly in 2013, at the age of 14, with the club citing a lack of physicality as the primary reason for his release.
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Though initially disheartening, that setback proved to be a catalyst for Rice's career.
Following his departure from Chelsea, Rice swiftly joined the youth ranks of West Ham United in the spring of 2013, after a successful trial period.
Academy coach Trevor Bumstead noted Rice's determination as a key factor in his progression through the West Ham system. He excelled in the youth teams, lifting the Premier League Cup with the under-21s in 2016 and the Premier League 2 Division 2 title with the under-23s in 2020.
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Rice made his senior debut for the Hammers against Burnley on the final day of the 2016-17 season and soon established himself as a crucial first-team player, initially in defence before transitioning to his now familiar midfield role.
His influence grew steadily, culminating in him being named club captain in 2022, succeeding Mark Noble.
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In his final season with West Ham, Rice led the club to a historic Conference League triumph in 2023, their first major European trophy since 1965, and was also recognised as the competition's Player of the Season.
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In total, Rice made 245 appearances for West Ham, scoring 15 goals.
In the summer of 2023, Rice made a high-profile move to Arsenal, with the transfer fee reported to be an initial £100 million, potentially rising to £105 million with add-ons.
This made him the most expensive English player at the time, equalling the record held by Jack Grealish. His arrival at the Emirates Stadium has further solidified his reputation as one of the premier defensive midfielders in the game.
The Englishman’s first season with the Gunners saw him contribute significantly to their Premier League campaign, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists in 38 appearances.
The 2024-25 season has continued to see Rice as a vital cog in the Arsenal machine. On January 22, 2025, he scored his first Champions League goal against Dinamo Zagreb.
However, it was his performance against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on April 8, 2025, that truly captured headlines.
In a stunning display at the Emirates, Rice became the first player in Champions League history to score two direct free-kicks in a knockout stage match, leading Arsenal to a memorable 3-0 victory over the reigning European champions.
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12:48 - 09.04.2025
Declan Rice and the best 9 free kicks in Champions League history
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His two sublime strikes in the 58th and 70th minutes were followed by a third goal from Mikel Merino, leaving Real Madrid with a significant deficit to overcome in the return leg.
Rice's exceptional performance, characterised by his stunning goals and dominant midfield presence, was instrumental in securing a historic win for Arsenal.
Declan Rice International Career
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Declan Rice's international career is notable for a significant switch of allegiance.
He initially represented the Republic of Ireland at various youth levels, progressing to make three friendly appearances in 2018.
However, in February 2019, Rice declared his intention to represent England, the country of his birth.
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He made his England debut against Czechia in March 2019 and has since become a mainstay in the national team's midfield.
Rice has featured in major tournaments for the Three Lions, including UEFA Euro 2020, where England finished as runners-up, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024.
As of April 2025, Rice has earned 64 caps for England, scoring five goals. The midfielder is considered a crucial player for the national side, known for his defensive prowess, tactical awareness and ability to drive forward.
Declan Rice Stats
Considering senior appearances only, Declan Rice has made 339 appearances (as of April 9, 2025).
Of those figures, 245 came at West Ham, and he has played 94 times for Arsenal. The midfielder has played 271 times in the Premier League, 20 times in the Champions League, 13 each in the FA Cup and EFL Cup, while he has made 11 and 10 appearances in the Conference League and Europa League, respectively.
Rice has featured in one Community Shield game.
In the Premier League, Rice has scored 19 goals and has set up 23, the majority of which have been from set pieces.
The midfielder’s other 10 career goals at club level have come in the Champions League (four), FA Cup (1), EFL Cup (1), Europa League (3) and Conference League (1).
Considering national team appearances, Rice has made 64 caps for England’s Three Lions, scoring five times.
Altogether, Rice has made 403 appearances for club and country, scoring 34 (as of April 9, 2025).
Declan Rice Style of Play
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Declan Rice primarily plays as a defensive midfielder, recognised for his passing range, athleticism and tackling skills.
Recently, he has developed into a more complete midfielder, showcasing ball-carrying abilities and scoring from distance, allowing him to occasionally take on a more offensive role.
Declan Rice Position
Declan Rice primarily operates as a defensive midfielder. In this role, he is positioned in front of the defence, tasked with breaking up opposition attacks, winning back possession and dictating the tempo of play from a deeper position.
However, Rice’s versatility means he is adept in central midfield, sometimes referred to as a No. 8.
In this position, he can utilise his ball-carrying ability and passing range to contribute more to attacking phases.
While Rice’s fundamental position is defensive midfield, his tactical flexibility allows him to operate effectively in central midfield depending on the team's needs and game situation.
Declan Rice Salary
According to Capology, Declan Rice earns £240,000 per week (£12.4m annually).
Rice is Arsenal’s third-highest earner behind Kai Havertz (£280,000) and Gabriel Jesus (£240,000).
Having signed a five-year deal with the Gunners, the Englishman has about three-and-a-half years remaining.
Declan Rice Honours
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West Ham United
UEFA Europa Conference League: 2022–23
Arsenal
FA Community Shield: 2023
England
UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2020, 2024
UEFA Nations League third place: 2018–19
Individual
West Ham United Young Player of the Year: 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
West Ham United Player of the Year: 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23
Republic of Ireland U17 Player of the Year: 2016
FAI Young International Player of the Year: 2018
UEFA Europa League Team of the Season: 2021–22
UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season: 2022–23
UEFA Europa Conference League Player of the Season: 2022–23
PFA Team of the Year: 2023–24
Premier League London Football Premier League Player of the Year: 2022, 2024
London Football Premier League Young Player of the Year: 2019
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Declan Rice and Mason Mount
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Declan Rice and Mason Mount are close friends who have known each other since their time in the Chelsea academy.
Despite Rice being released by Chelsea at 14 and later joining West Ham before his move to Arsenal, their bond has remained strong.
Both are England internationals and have often featured together for the national team. Mount, currently at Manchester United, and Rice represent the future of English midfield, with their friendship a notable aspect of their professional careers.
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They often show support for each other publicly, highlighting their enduring connection despite playing for rival clubs.
Declan Rice Parents
Declan Rice's parents are Sean Rice and Stephanie Rice.
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He also has two brothers, Connor Rice and Jordan Rice.
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His paternal grandparents were from County Cork in Ireland.
Sean Rice has played a significant role in Declan's career, acting as his agent.
Declan Rice Wife
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Declan Rice is in a long-term relationship with Lauren Fryer. Though they are not married, they have reportedly been together since they were 17 years old and have a son named Jude, who was born in August 2022.
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Lauren Fryer prefers to keep a low public profile and, according to reports, deleted all her Instagram photos in April 2024 after receiving online abuse about her appearance.
Rice has publicly defended his girlfriend against these trolls, stating that she is the "love of his life".
Declan Rice Net Worth
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According to multiple sources, Declan Rice's net worth is around £26m ($33m).
The Englishman’s primary source of income is his lucrative contract with Arsenal, where he earns approximately £240,000 per week, equating to an annual salary of around £12.48 million.
Outside his football earnings, Rice also has endorsement deals with major brands such as Adidas.
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His record-breaking transfer to Arsenal in the summer of 2023 for an initial fee of £100 million, potentially rising to £105 million, significantly boosted his financial standing.
Additionally, the England international has invested in properties in London and Kingston upon Thames, contributing to his overall net worth.
Rice’s current five-year contract with Arsenal runs until 2028.
Declan Rice Instagram
Declan Rice's official Instagram account is @declanrice. As of April 9, 2025, he has 4.1m followers and regularly shares updates about his professional and personal life, including match highlights, training photos and moments with his family and teammates.