Declan Rice hasn’t always had the smoothest of rides with West Ham United supporters since his £105m move to Arsenal, but the former Hammers captain extended an olive branch of sorts this week with a classy gesture following his return to the scene of his greatest moment in claret and blue and arguably his career s far.
Rice played a key role in Arsenal’s 3-0 Champions League win over Slavia Prague — a victory that all but secured the Gunners’ place in the knockout stages. But it wasn’t just the result that caught the eye. For West Ham fans, it was the venue: Slavia’s Fortuna Arena, the very ground where Rice lifted the Europa Conference League trophy for us back in 2023.
Following the final whistle, Rice took to Instagram and posted a message clearly aimed at the West Ham faithful. “This exact end and stadium. The best memories here. Forever grateful,” he wrote — a rare public nod to the club that developed him into one of England’s best midfielders.
While some Hammers fans still feel aggrieved at the way Rice departed — not helped by his goal against West Ham in Arsenal colours last month — others may appreciate his tribute. It was, after all, Rice who lifted our first major trophy in over 40 years, and for many, that moment will never be forgotten.
With Arsenal chasing silverware on multiple fronts, Rice could be set to lift his first trophy since that unforgettable night in Prague. But it just goes to show, as well as the Gooners are doing this season, trophies are hard to come by as things stand, that Conference League medal is more than he’s won in s far in North London.
Everything I thought below in comments. Well said people. Would love to see Declan leading an attractive, winning England team for years to come.
Every player has a responsibility to himself and those close to him, to do the best he can to achieve whatever he can in a career that can end in an instant. Rice has proven to be, not only a class act on the field of play but also as a person and a professional. West Ham have not made any effort to be one of the top teams in the Premier League that can offer players regular Champions League football and so players that want to test themselves against and with the best, have no choice but to look elsewhere for that challenge. If West Ham had ambition to match that of Rice, he would likely still be our captain, and our current conversations would be very different
Nice to see all the grown up comments here – he’s a great lad and has always behaved impeccably towards our club. Fine, have a neutral opinion of him as he’s now an opposition player, but anyone actively speaking negatively about a kid who goes about his business in an honest and decent way and still clearly demonstrates an ongoing connection to West Ham make no sense to me.
Great player Great bloke
West Ham fans with a grudge against Dec, need their heads tested!
He didn’t run his contract down, he made sure we were able to a good price for him when he left.
I get the impression that he still has real affection for the club. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see him return in some coaching capacity after he hangs up his boots.
Why should some “Fans!” be aggrieved, he didn’t put a transfer in when the club was in danger of relegation, he didn’t go on strike when he wanted to manufacture a transfer, he gave his all, he won a European Title, he gave his all and allowed the to get Top Dollar, he refuses to celebrate when he inevitably scored against us , and he still pops in for a cuppa. He is the future England Captain, do I wish he was still a Hammer…Yes. Dec I hope you achieve what you are destined to do, always an Iron in his heart.
Well said mate. If he gets grief from any Hammers fans then they’re knuckle draggers.
Top man who owes us nothing, some fans really need to grow up
Well said Morty.
Players registrations are transactional.
Dec would have happily stayed for the remainder of his contract, he’s on record alluding to this.
As far as Im aware, he didn’t agitate for a massive pay rise whilst still a Hammer.
However, from the club’s perspective, to maximise a top fee, knowing a player could leave for free should he honour the entire contract term, dosen’t return a profit acceptable to them.
That’s the way of players contracts Im afraid!