By the time Declan Rice prepared to move from West Ham United to Arsenal in a £105m transfer, making him the costliest English player ever, he had already been termed a “complete midfielder” by one broadcaster.
When Rice initially emerged as a teenager with the Hammers, the perception of him was different. He seemed destined to be a ‘number six’, a player who would guard and protect, with the potential of evolving into a center-back eventually. Consequently, early comparisons to West Ham icon Bobby Moore were common.
“I was always tagged [a holding midfielder] who just positions themselves in front of the back four, but now I envision myself as a box-to-box player, capable of getting upfield to create opportunities and also supporting the team defensively,” Rice mentioned while he was still with West Ham.
What he is now, is that world class box-to-box midfield engine. He can do the defensive side of the game where he originally excelled, but is not content with being the sitting midfielder and has the energy and quality to impact games in the attacking third as well.
35 goals and assists across his first two seasons at Arsenal, from a player previously viewed as defensive, is testament to that. He’s already scored more goals in 2024/25 than 2023/24 (eight vs seven), while it’s been ten assists in each campaign – there remains time this season to better that.
It’s one of the key reasons that Rice has been chosen by CELSIUS, the fastest growing energy drink in the United States, to be one of the faces of their growing UK expansion.
“As a box-to-box midfielder, fuelling right is key,” Rice said of his involvement with the brand.
“CELSIUS gives me that energy boost with zero sugar, helping me to stay sharp and to combat fatigue so I can go the distance every game.”
Lionesses and Bayern Munich midfielder Georgia Stanway has a similar profile on the pitch, a tenacious midfielder who likes to cover every blade of grass. She too has been adopted by CELSIUS.
“Football is a high-tempo game, you need to stay sharp for 90 minutes and even into extra-time. CELSIUS gives me the energy I need to help me focus, dig deeper, and fight fatigue so I can perform at my best,” she said. “…whether for club or country, or just pushing myself in the gym.”
