Now at Arsenal, preparing for the Champions League final this evening, Rice has continued to credit West Ham for shaping him into the player capable of reaching that stage. After Arsenal reached the final, he publicly thanked West Ham and Mark Noble, saying _“Without West Ham, there’s no me.”_
Rice’s social media post
When West Ham were relegated on the final day of the 2025–26 season, Rice’s reaction was immediate and emotional. Footage showed him shaking his head and slapping his hands together in frustration as the news was announced at Selhurst Park, moments before Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy.
He later posted a heartfelt message:
> _“I’m absolutely gutted to see West Ham relegated. A club that really does mean so much to me… I wouldn’t be where I am today without everything the club has done for me… I will be supporting always.”_
Rice joined West Ham at 14 after being released by Chelsea and spent ten years at the club. During that time he became one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders, succeeded Mark Noble as captain led West Ham to the 2023 Europa Conference League title and won Hammer of the Year multiple times, while becoming a full England international.
His departure in 2023 for £100m+ was the club’s record sale.
Rice’s move to Arsenal marked a turning point not because he left, but because West Ham failed to reinvest effectively. We struggled after his departure, with poor recruitment and declining performances contributing to our eventual relegation.
The contrast is stark:
* Rice: Premier League champion, Champions League finalist, thriving under Arteta.
* West Ham: Managerial upheaval, squad imbalance, fan unrest, and relegation for the first time in 15 years.
Even Rice himself admitted it “_pains him_” to see the club in such danger.
Declan Rice’s journey is a story of ambition rooted in loyalty. He left West Ham to chase Champions League nights and achieved them but never severed emotional ties with the club that shaped him.
This may divide our readers yet I believe his devastated reaction to relegation shows that, despite the rivalry and the boos, he remains “proper West Ham” at heart. I strongly believe if the club shared his ambitions and were run properly, he would have remained, instead we now face Championship football, yet unlike Rice and other players, as a supporter I remain. A football club often chooses you, not the other way around!