Declan Rice, West Ham badge
West Ham have Declan Rice to thank. (Credit - Imago)
Rahul Lakhani
Tue 25 March 2025 19:10, UK
Declan Rice may not be at West Ham anymore, but he is still keeping a close eye on club affairs nearly two years on from his departure.
Rice left West Ham for a British record fee after captaining the side to victory in the Europa Conference League, but the club have struggled to replace him since.
There are some promising midfield talents coming through in the academy, and there may be a hope that one of them can follow in Rice’s footsteps in becoming a key first-team player after a new development emerged.
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Former West Ham captain Declan Rice excelled in midfield
Declan Rice reacts as Freddie Potts signs new West Ham contract
West Ham have now announced that young midfielder Freddie Potts has signed a long-term contract to keep him at the London Stadium.
Potts’ new deal will run to 2029, with the 21-year-old signing a fresh four-year deal, whilst he continues to impress on loan at EFL Championship side Portsmouth.
Stat Freddie Potts
Appearances 30
Goals 1
Assists 4
Yellow Cards 5
Freddie Potts’ stats for Portsmouth this season
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The Englishman has made 30 appearances for Pompey this season, and his new deal is a welcome one, as his previous contract was set to expire in 2026.
Rice has reacted to the news, with the Arsenal midfielder liking the latest announcement on Instagram, as West Ham confirmed the deal with Rice’s former teammate Mark Noble pictured.
Could Freddie Potts join the West Ham squad next season?
Potts has excelled on loan at Portsmouth this season, with the defensive midfielder scoring once and providing four assists from deep positions.
He could end up being the natural long-term replacement for Rice, and previously shone in West Ham Academy sides, having made 48 appearances for the under-21s.
Graham Potter’s side could benefit from extra quality in midfield, and Potts could be given an opportunity in pre-season to try and break into the team.
The 21-year-old has a bright future, and West Ham clearly value his talent highly as they sought to tie him down for the long term, and Potter may wish to keep a close eye on him for the rest of this season.
Potts has already made more appearances for the West Ham under-21s than Rice ever did, and is older than the England international was when he broke through, but there is still plenty of time ahead for him to work his way into the team.
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