Declan Rice
Midfielder
If England wins the 2024 Euros, we believe Declan Rice will have been one of the key factors in their victory. He is the glue that holds squads together, as he has proved time and time again. He began his professional career with a fairly lackluster West Ham side that regularly finished in the bottom half of the Premier League table. However, Rice was able to develop alongside his team, resulting in multiple top-half finishes and even a Europa Conference League qualification. Rice was then named the West Ham captain at just 23 years of age. As captain, he led his team to their first European silverware since 1965, when he won the Europa Conference League. At this point, he had developed a reputation as an extraordinarily reliable player, making him one of the hottest prospects on the transfer market. Arsenal pounced on the opportunity to sign him during the summer of 2023, paying his monumental £100 million transfer fee. We believe it has since proved to be a sound investment. Rice had controlled the midfield of both Arsenal and their opponents, playing calmly and commandingly. There are few players in world football who are more sure of themselves on the ball than Declan Rice. He is brilliant defensively, making difficult interceptions and tackles and then quickly orchestrating a counterattack. He brings these very same qualities to England’s national team, providing a sense of stability when the situation is dire. There are many reasons why England has gone undefeated during their qualifying journey, and one of those reasons is Declan Rice.
