It’s been quite a year for Declan Rice, helping to inspire Arsenal to a first Premier League title for two decades before playing a pivotal role in England journeying to a World Cup semi-final.

Sandwiched between both these achievements, the midfielder put in a masterful display in a Champions League final.

Widely lauded for his high-intensity athleticism and progressive ball-carrying, Rice’s performances in 2025/26 have brought him a second Ballon d’Or nomination, but he wasn’t always so well regarded.

Indeed, when aged 13 he was let go by Chelsea, who were reportedly concerned about his inability to adapt to a recent growth spurt.

Soon after, West Ham United came calling, offering the teenager a second shot at a professional career and it’s fair to say Rice grabbed the opportunity with both hands. In due course, the Londoner was made first team captain and it was in this role that he held aloft the club’s first European silverware for sixty years in 2023.

That summer, the young England international left East London for Arsenal, for a club record fee exceeding £100m, but when he returned the following season for a league fixture the player was at pains to acknowledge the debt he feels he owes the Hammers.   

"It is the club that gave me everything and, without West Ham, there is no me. They are the club that gave me the chance when Chelsea didn't”

For the majority of his time at West Ham, Rice was managed by David Moyes who played as big a role as anyone in developing him into the player he is today.

Subsequently moving to Everton’s technical area, Moyes was later tasked with trying to nullify a terrific Arsenal midfield, in doing so deploying Tim Iroegbunam to monitor Rice’s forward movements at all times.

Clearly impressed with his player’s efforts the Scot spoke in praise of him post-match, making the following, revealing, statement:

“He was up against probably the best midfield player in the world”

So there we have it. From teenage rejection, to being handed a second chance, to being considered the best of his ilk, these two quotes highlight the astonishing journey Declan Rice has undertaken.