A new season invariably means new kits, and adidas have raised the bar with the latest Arsenal kit collection. And to commemorate the new third kit, the Three Stripes held a launch party at the adidas flagship store in London — hosted by Arsenal’s very own Declan Rice. 

With tickets for the event selling out in just fifteen minutes, the anticipation surrounding the launch and Declan Rice’s appearance was immense. As supporters from all over gathered in the store, they were greeted by a live DJ performance and sustained with authentic Jamaican patties. 

With the vibes high and the energy pulsing around the room, the decibel levels went up even further when the crowd were surprised with a performance from Arsenal fan Wretch 32. But if you thought that was loud, you should’ve heard the seismic roar when Rice walked out.

And boy, were they in for a treat as Rice lined up next to Wretch 32, mic in hand, ready to get involved. Supporters were rewarded with a live performance from the midfielder, who showed his diverse skillset wasn’t just limited to the pitch. Singing along to popular amapiano track Jealousy, to going bar for bar on JME Man Don’t Care, before rounding off with one of his favourite rappers, Skrapz, One More Chance. The midfielder was in his element, and if set performances had a FotMob rating, this player would’ve got a solid 9.  

Declan Rice’s Highbury Houseparty was not just a celebration of the new third kit. It was an opportunity for fans to show their adoration for the midfielder, who, since his move two summers ago, has become a fan favourite. 

The 26-year-old ex-hammer has certainly sharpened his tools since making the move to North London. Adding to his already impressive armoury since joining the Gunners, he’s been letting off cannons at the Emirates. That night against Real Madrid will live long in his memory, but beyond the free-kicks and the big moments, Rice’s influence on the game transcends the confines of the pitch. 

And so, before the event, we sat down with Declan Rice to discuss all things off the pitch. From walking on runways, being a part-time photographer, to the classic adage of stick to football. 

As we entered the room, eager to maximise the limited time we had, the inevitable anticipation of meeting one of England’s best midfielders quickly subsided as he greeted the crew with a warmth and authenticity that speaks volumes. Humble yet hungry for success, it became increasingly clear why he has soared to the very top of the game. 

While we got prepared for the interview, Rice asked if I was an Arsenal fan, to which I sheepishly responded that I wasn’t, and in fact, I support Manchester United. Undeterred, he then went around the room quizzing each person in jest about who they support, with a range of responses emerging from Chelsea, West Ham, and, of course, Arsenal. 

Given the occasion, it seemed pertinent to begin the conversation by getting a player’s perspective on how much they enjoy seeing and wearing the recent drops by Arsenal and adidas, particularly the Originals and lifestyle collections. 

“It’s unreal. I know they put a lot of work into it, seasons before, in terms of what we’re going to wear the next season. As a player, being an adidas athlete, we get sick Originals stuff. The tracksuits throughout the season, we have like four or five different changes. The leisure wear that we get to wear and the warm-up tracksuits and jumpers are so good. So yeah, we’re quite lucky to be honest with you.” 

It’s no secret that Arsenal have been killing it with their apparel, but the Emirates has also embraced fashion in other ways. With London Fashion Week on the horizon, I asked Declan about his runway debut last year with LABRUM. 

“It was through Foday [Dumbuya, founder and creative director] that the opportunity arose for me to walk for them. At the start, I was unsure whether to do it or not, because of how it would come across. Obviously, I’m a football player, and I didn’t want it to come across funny. But then I thought, you know what, I love my fashion, and it’s a great opportunity — it was at the Emirates as well, so it made sense.  Being in that space, seeing how they work was really different and eye-opening. I can’t believe it was a year ago, to be honest, it’s gone so quickly. But I really, really enjoyed it and I was happy I did it.”

A clear fan of the growing crossovers of football, fashion, music, and culture, we agreed that for a crossover to be successful, it must be rooted in innate authenticity. “Yeah. I think football’s changing so much, and you’re seeing so many people have outside hobbies. 15, 20 years ago, you’d see footballers play football, and that’s it. Whereas, players are now starting clothing brands and doing music. So I think it’s important that the game keeps growing in that way.” 

Having successfully dabbled in modelling, I was interested in why Declan decided to be on the other end of the camera lens, particularly his passion for photography, and the reasoning behind creating a separate account — @dr.jpg. 

“It’s just different. The camera is different from an iPhone or a standard picture you’d get from a game, and obviously, it’s me taking it. It’s just a fun hobby as well. When I first bought the camera, I didn’t even think about making an account. But then I thought, I might as well, and the fans started to like it and buy into it. But it’s really hard to post because of the timing of things sometimes. I posted the other day for the first time in ages and people loved it, so I’m going to try and get active again now.”

The significance of off-field interests certainly isn’t lost on the midfielder, and given the mental and physical demands of the game, it seems reasonable to want to switch off when possible. 

“Football’s crazy now, the amount of games we play is incredible, and the scrutiny that is on the players. When you finish football, you want to be able to get home, chill, think about other things, be with your family, do a hobby, or go out with friends. You can see a lot of footballers now doing different things, and I think it’s important because you need that time to switch off from football sometimes. I think the game’s going in a good way, people are showing their personality more, and that’s what people want. People want to see what we do behind the scenes and in real life, and not just be robots behind the camera, so I think it’s trending in a good way.” 

Given the extent of scrutiny on players and the repeated resurfacing of the familiar adage ‘stick to football,’ I quizzed Declan on whether suppressing themselves and their personalities would be detrimental to players. 

“I think you can stick to football and still focus on another hobby — I think that’s where people get confused. Every footballer’s first and main priority is to play football. But on the side, whether it’s music,  photography or whatever else, that’s just a hobby. That’s just because we’re just normal humans who do normal things, but we’re just lucky enough to be good at football as well. So that’s the main focus, but I think the more that people show their personality and show what they can do more, I think that’s better because it will encourage others to do it.”

On the topic of personality and expression, Declan Rice has risen to acclaim for his lifestyle dumps on Instagram, but who is behind the player’s immaculate style? 

Quick to deny the help of any stylists, I was curious to learn more about where he draws inspiration from when creating outfits and curating his wardrobe. 

“I don’t know, to be honest with you. I think it’s just the time that we’re in. Sometimes you see other people wearing stuff, and sometimes it’s stuff that I like myself that I think will look really nice. Back in the day, when I was a scholar and I got my first pro, I was more into big designer brands, as most 18- 19-year-olds are. Then today I’ve come in a £9 H&M t-shirt, that’s just plain, but it goes well with what I’ve got on. I probably prefer plainer stuff now, that’s just a bit more subtle because I think that’s just as nice as the big brands. But I still rock with that sometimes if it’s a nice piece.”

And as the conversation draws to a close, I conclude by asking him to summarise his style in three words. “Subtle, clean, elegant.”

Ironically, his fashion style isn’t too dissimilar from what he shows on the pitch. A reminder that by enabling players to express themselves authentically, both on and off the field, it will only help them thrive and succeed, and Declan Rice is living proof.