Arsenal’s £105 million midfielder Declan Rice follows Christianity, specifically the Catholic faith. Raised by his devout Catholic mother Teresa Rice, the England international grew up learning values of faith, gratitude and humility from an early age.
Quick Profile: Declan Rice
| Full Name | Declan Rice |
| Date of Birth | January 14, 1999 |
| Nationality | English |
| Height | 1.88m (6’2″) |
| Religion | Christianity (Catholic) |
What Religion is Declan Rice?
Declan Rice is a Christian who follows the Catholic faith. The Arsenal midfielder was raised in a Catholic household by his mother, Teresa Rice, who is described as a devout Catholic. She played a significant role in teaching him the values of faith, gratitude, and humility from a young age, a background similar to players such as Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyökeres.
Rice’s Irish heritage also connects him to the Catholic tradition. His paternal grandparents, Jack and Margaret, were from Douglas in County Cork, Ireland, where Catholicism has deep roots. This Irish-Catholic background was significant in his early life and even influenced his initial decision to represent the Republic of Ireland at youth level before switching to England in 2019.
Although Rice doesn’t speak openly about his faith in interviews or on social media, those close to him know that his Catholic upbringing shaped his character. The values his mother taught him are reflected in his professional attitude, his respect for teammates, and his humble approach to success. Rice is known for being grounded, disciplined and focused, qualities that many attribute to his family’s strong faith foundation.
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Declan Rice was born on January 14, 1999, in Kingston upon Thames, a suburban area in southwest London. He grew up in a close-knit, football-loving family with his parents, Sean and Teresa Rice, and his two older siblings, Connor and Lauren.
From the age of two, Rice showed an incredible passion for football. His father recalled seeing pictures of young Declan in the garden, wearing just a nappy, kicking a ball around in all kinds of weather. Whether it was rain or snow, the boy was always playing with a ball at his feet. At the age of seven, Rice joined the prestigious Chelsea Football Club academy in 2006. For eight years, he developed his skills alongside some of England’s future stars, including his childhood best friend Mason Mount. The two became inseparable, training together four times a week and forming a bond that continues to this day.
However, at 14 years old, Rice faced a crushing setback. Chelsea released him from their academy, citing concerns about his physical development. He was small for his age and hadn’t experienced his growth spurt yet. Rice admitted that being let go by Chelsea was devastating. He burst into tears when his father broke the news to him, as Chelsea was all he had ever known. But this rejection became a turning point. West Ham United gave him a chance after a trial period, and Rice joined their academy in 2013. He worked tirelessly to prove himself, eventually growing into his body and developing the physical and mental strength that would define his career.
Career Highlights
Rice made his senior debut for West Ham United in May 2017, after signing his first professional contract in December 2015. He gradually became a key player for West Ham. On 12 January 2019, Rice scored his first Premier League goal (ironically against Arsenal) and was named Man of the Match, a breakthrough moment that won him wider attention. Over the next seasons he cemented his importance at West Ham, he played every minute of the 2019–20 Premier League season, leading the team in tackles and interceptions. He was voted the club’s Players’ Player of the Year and Hammer of the Year in 2020, and won that Hammer of the Year award again in 2022, reflecting his status as West Ham’s top performer.
In 2022, after the retirement of longtime captain Mark Noble, Rice was named club captain of West Ham. He led West Ham to one of the biggest successes in their history, winning the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League. Rice captained the side to a 2–1 victory over Fiorentina in the June 2023 final, securing West Ham’s first major trophy in decades. He was also named the Conference League’s Player of the Season for his dominant performances.
That summer of 2023 Rice made a club-record move, on 15 July 2023, Arsenal signed him on a long-term deal for an initial £100 million (rising with add-ons). This fee made him one of the most expensive players in the world and, at the time, the joint-most expensive English player ever. He made an immediate impact at Arsenal, debuting on 6 August 2023 in the FA Community Shield and helping the team win that trophy on penalties against Manchester City. He scored his first Arsenal goal in September 2023.
As an England international, Rice has been a regular midfielder for the national team. He helped England reach the UEFA European Championship final in 2021 (Euro 2020 tournament) and again in 2024, finishing as runners-up both times.
Earnings
Declan Rice currently earns approximately £250,000 per week at Arsenal, which equals about £13 million per year. This makes him one of the highest-paid players at the club. His contract runs until 2028. These earnings and his high transfer fee have contributed to an estimated net worth in the tens of millions. For example, SalarySport reports Rice’s net worth at roughly £52 million, this includes his salary from Arsenal, earnings from his previous years at West Ham, and income from endorsement deals.
The transfer fee structure when Arsenal signed Rice included £50 million paid immediately, another £50 million in summer 2024, plus additional performance-based payments (£1 million every time Arsenal qualify for the Champions League and £1 million if he plays 60% of games in a season) that could take the total to £105 million.
Personal Life
Declan Rice has been in a relationship with his childhood sweetheart, Lauren Fryer, since 2016 when they were both just 17 years old. The couple met at school in their hometown of Chessington and have been together for over nine years. Lauren is 25 years old (the same age as Rice) and keeps a low profile, preferring to stay out of the spotlight. She is often seen supporting Rice from the stands during his matches, wearing his jersey and cheering him on.
In August 2022, the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Jude. Rice revealed the happy news by showing off a new tattoo featuring Jude’s name, birth date (07.08.2022), and the Leo zodiac symbol. The family lives together in London to be close to Arsenal’s training ground, and they also own a house in Kingston-Upon-Thames where they both grew up. Unfortunately, Lauren has been the victim of cruel online trolling about her appearance. Starting in December 2023 and escalating through 2024, she faced harsh criticism on social media, with trolls making disparaging comments about her looks and suggesting Rice “could do better.” The abuse became so severe that Lauren deleted all her photos from Instagram in April 2024, though she kept her account active. Rice publicly defended his girlfriend, calling her “the love of his life” and emphasizing that “she doesn’t need any improvements.” Other football personalities and WAGS, including Jamie Vardy’s partner Rebecca and Love Island star Liberty Poole, also came to Lauren’s defense. Despite the challenges, the couple remains strong and focused on their family.
