Declan Rice loves West Ham and has shown nothing but respect to us always.
We couldn’t match his ambitions, but he left respectfully for a very large fee and always gave his all.
He never refused to train, gave his all right until the end and probably stayed a good 2 more years than he could have.
Got stick last week for saying we’re happy to see him succeed. You can hate Arsenal but also feel proud of him deep down, for some odd reason a lot of people can’t separate the two.
All I’ve see is people say his reaction to us being relegated is performative. He spent 10 years at the club, and let’s be honest, deep down would have stayed if we could’ve went to the next level with him. He loves this football club, there’s zero need for him to perform for the cameras.
After almost seven years at this club, it’s hard to put into words what this moment means to me.
I arrived at this club when I was 18 years old. Far from home, barely speaking the language, trying to adapt to a completely new culture, new life and chasing a dream that felt so big at the time.
I didn’t know exactly what the future would hold, but I knew I wanted to give everything for this club.
We didn’t just build a team, we built a family, an identity, and something the fans could believe in again. To see this club back where it belongs is one of the proudest moments of my career.
I want to thank my family, thank everyone at the club, the staff, my teammates, and every person working behind the scenes. Most importantly, thank you to the fans. Your support, patience and love throughout these years never went unnoticed. You stayed with us through the difficult moments, and this title belongs to you as much as anyone.
This club changed my life. I will always be grateful for the privilege of wearing this shirt.
PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 🏆