Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has expressed deep sadness to see his former club West Ham demoted on the final day of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Despite celebrating a title win with Arsenal, Rice showed his strong emotional connection to the Hammers, calling them a club that “means so much” to him.
Rice Deep Affection For West Ham
The 27-year-old left West Ham for Arsenal in 2023 for a club-record fee but has never hidden his love for the East London side.
Taking to Instagram, Rice sent a message to West Ham fans, admitting that he is “gutted” to see them get relegated.
“I’m absolutely gutted to see West Ham relegated,” he said.
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“A club that really does mean so much to me. As I said before, I wouldn’t be where I am today without everything the club has done for me.
“With that being said, I have no doubt they will be back where they belong in the Premier League in no time. I will be supporting always.”
West Ham Relegation Drama
West Ham United were relegated from the Premier League to the Championship on May 24, 2026, ending a 14-year top-flight stay.
Despite a 3-0 win over Leeds on the final day, results elsewhere meant they finished 18th, alongside Burnley and Wolves.
The club finished with 39 points under Nuno Espírito Santo.
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The Nuno Factor
Nuno Espirito Santo was hired in September as a replacement for Potter with the club already in 19th place. While Nuno brought some initial improvement and lifted the side off the bottom, the team struggled for consistency and had an atrocious run between November and January, collecting only four points from 30 available.
The managerial turnover was exacerbated by poor, often contradictory, transfer investments following the sale of Declan Rice, making it difficult for coaches to establish a consistent playing style.
The squad lacked both pace and depth, failing to adapt to the changing tactics of the different managers.
