John Terry has sent a short message to Declan Rice after the West Ham star helped lead his side to a remarkable Europa Conference League victory over Fiorentina in Prague. The Irons' skipper has been widely tipped to have now played his last game for the club.
With both Chelsea and Arsenal amongst the A-list teams interested in signing Rice this summer, he opened up on what is to come next after the game. "Look at the moment, there's obviously a lot of speculation going on about my future," he told BT Sport.
"Obviously there is interest from other clubs, that's out there, but ultimately I still have two-years left at West Ham .I love this club, I love playing for this club, there hasn't been nothing yet, so look my focus is playing for West Ham, enjoying tonight and seeing what happens.
"I'm captain of this club, I absolutely love it to pieces, I cannot speak highly enough of this place and let's just see what happens."
Rice became just the second captain of a London club to lift a major European trophy in modern football with the other being Terry himself. Such is the impact on his team, Rice scored and assisted on the way to the final and helped complete a 15 game unbeaten run, winning 14.
He was also asked how good it would be to bow out whilst on top for the Hammers, to which he said: "Yeah look, let's wait and see; who knows, who knows."
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The 24-year-old is a priority target for Arsenal, but they won't be drawn into paying over the odds or close to the £100million that David Moyes' side want, football.london understands, whereas Chelsea also haven't ruled out a move for him. The former Cobham player has long been linked with a move back to his boyhood club.
Terry, who knows Rice from his time at the club and has spent time with him since then and is a big fan, sent a message on Instagram, writing: "What a pic, congratulations." Rice posted an image of himself in bed with the Conference League trophy online after a night of celebrations in Czech Republic.
It's not the first time he has been open about his feelings regarding Rice, either. "I’m going to get in trouble here for what I say!" Terry said in 2022. "You know what, Dec obviously loves Chelsea – I think everyone knows that. think the rejection he had from Chelsea has really helped his career actually. What he’s done at West Ham is pretty much incredible."
Since then the England star has only improved more and more until now being considered alongside the best in his position in the world. "I think from Dec’s side of things, I think he’s given everything to West Ham," he added at the time.
"And for me, looking from the outside, unless West Ham go and make a big statement in the summer and go and spend £100million plus and say, 'We want to keep Dec and we want to bring in top players like you', then I think he’s got a decision to make.
"I think if West Ham go and spend huge amounts of money, bring in top players, then I think it’s difficult for him to walk away."
The Hammers have spent big in order to push on but struggled domestically alongside their progress in Europe. It doesn't appear to be enough to keep hold of their captain, though. Club chairman David Sullivan told talkSPORT: "I think it has to be [Rice's final game for West Ham]. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.
"You can’t ask for a man who has committed more to us this season. In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement – or several replacements.
"It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down. It’s cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time [in lost wages]. And he wants to go. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there."
Whether it is a move to Arsenal, Chelsea or indeed Bayern Munich this summer, his time in east London appears to be up. For that, he has Terry to thank.
In an interview with the Times in 2018, Rice revealed the impact that the former Chelsea skipper had on his career: "John would speak to the parents and take his time to get to know young players and families. For a club captain to do that is quality.
"I based my whole game on John when I was younger. When I was released by Chelsea he called for 45 minutes and I remember I was sat in my room next to my dad.
"It was John Terry - I could not believe it. He handed over all his experience and advice. He said to never stop, always keep working hard and give everything you have.
"It stayed in my head, and look where I am now. No dream is far away. I last met John for a two-hour breakfast with my cousin about six months ago. Sometimes I text him, like when he retired and he replied 'Thanks mate, it is your time now.'"
Due to his relationship with Chelsea and his fit for the midfield spot and as a leader, Rice has always been amongst the targets for the club but they face a serious battle to draw him away from London rivals Arsenal.
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