Since joining Arsenal from West Ham in the summer of 2023, Declan Rice has quickly become a central figure in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
The £100 million midfielder has largely justified his price tag, with even his former West Ham boss, David Moyes, suggesting the Gunners may have got themselves a bargain given the England international’s versatility and influence on the pitch.
Renowned for his incredible stamina, Rice shapes the game at both ends of the field, making him one of the most complete midfielders of his generation.
The ex-West Ham captain is also a dead-ball specialist, with his corners regularly creating scoring chances and his free kicks adding a dangerous edge to Arsenal’s attack.
Rice’s stunning strikes against Real Madrid in the 2024/25 Champions League further cemented his status as a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium, inspiring the original Declan Rice chant.
A second brace, this time at Bournemouth in January 2026, prompted the Arsenal fans to coin a new tune, and here we take a closer look at both the classic chant and the recently created anthem.
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 debuts new chant
Given his growing influence and consistent performances for the Gunners, the former West Ham player is becoming a cult hero among Arsenal fans.
One of such performances is his fine display at the Vitality Stadium, where he scored twice, helping the North Londoners to a 3-2 victory.
To show appreciation for his efforts and contribution to Arsenal’s title charge, the fans debuted a brand new chant to the tune of ‘That’s the way’ by KC and the Sunshine Band.
The lyrics goes thus: “Declan Rice, in red and white, I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh! Declan Rice, in red and white, I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh! Do, do-do, do-do-do, do, do, do. Do, do-do, do-do-do, do, do, do.”
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.