Declan Rice chant: Lyrics, tune and story behind Arsenal’s song for their midfield dynamo

Declan Rice has been a key part of the Arsenal squad since the summer of 2023, when he made the move across London from West Ham.

Rice, who cost the Gunners £100m, was an instant hit with supporters, and his sensational free-kicks against Real Madrid during the 2024/25 season only cemented his status as a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium.

In fact, those two strikes against Real Madrid inspired the Declan Rice chant that Arsenal fans now sing at home and away games. For more information on the lyrics, tune and story behind the chant, our guide below has you covered.

Declan Rice chant lyrics and tune

The Declan Rice chant is sung to the tune of ‘My Old Man's a Dustman' by Lonnie Donegan. The lyrics are as follows:

Declan Rice is magic; he wears a magic hat,

He could have stayed at West Ham, but he said ‘no f**k that',

He'll score one on the left side, he'll score one on the right,

And when we win the Champions League, we'll sing this song all night

Declan Rice chant background

The Declan Rice football chant fits two key criteria – it features a dig at West Ham and also references his two free-kicks against Real Madrid, which was the most iconic night of Rice's career to date.

Although the song was predominantly sung on Arsenal's run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2025, the last line can be, and is, easily adapted to the Premier League.

Arsenal fans singing the Declan Rice chant

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FGG says: A modern-day adaptation of a Roy Keane chant for a modern-day Roy Keane

This tune was used by Man Utd fans in the 1990s and 2000s, and their version even included a dig at Arsenal over Keane's decision to snub them in favour of a move to Old Trafford.

It feels fitting that Declan Rice, a player who arguably resembles Keane the most in the modern game, has a chant to the same tune.