West Ham All-Time Premier League XI – Midfielders

Bench Midfielder: Declan Rice

• Joined West Ham: 2014 with the Academy
• Debut: May 2017
• Hammer of the Year: Winner (2020); Runner-Up (2018-19)
• Appearances: 118

The youngest and most recent addition to the All-Time West Ham Premier League XI, Declan Rice is certainly one of the brightest and most highly touted young West Ham prospects in recent memory. After being released by Chelsea in 2014, West Ham’s Academy picked him up and he has been a revelation ever since.

He made his debut under Slaven Bilic on the last day of the 2016-17 season. From there, Rice earned his way to a starting spot, something he hasn’t relinquished.

Rice made his 50th appearance for West Ham while he was still a teenager, the first teen to do so since Michael Carrick. He has made 108 total appearances in the Premier League for the Hammers and was the youngest West Ham player ever to achieve 100 first-team appearances.

After being Young Hammer of the Year three straight seasons (2017-19), he finally received the Hammer of the Year award in 2020. During the 2019-20 season, Rice placed in the top 5 in tackles and interceptions in the Premier League, making more passes than any other West Ham player.

Rice has also become a full-fledged England international after choosing the Three Lions over Ireland in 2018. Recently, there has been much speculation of a bid from his former club, Chelsea. However, no bid has been made to date.