Declan Rice’s £105 million ($139m) transfer to Arsenal has been hailed as the catalyst that propelled him “two or three levels” higher, with ex-England captain Terry Butcher explaining to GOAL how the record-breaking move elevated the current Three Lions star into the global elite. Rice is now regarded as a Premier League title winner, a World Cup hopeful, a Ballon d’Or contender, and a potential future captain for England.

From West Ham to Arsenal: Rice’s evolution

The dynamic 27-year-old has made remarkable progress since his early days. After being released by Chelsea during his youth, Rice’s professional breakthrough came at West Ham United, where questions arose about whether he was best suited as a defensive midfielder or a central defender.

Now, Rice has evolved into a complete box-to-box midfielder, adding goals to his repertoire and becoming a major creative force with his precision from set-pieces. No longer confined to a single role, he is widely praised as one of the finest all-round performers in the Premier League.

How the Arsenal move shaped a future England captain

When asked how Rice reached this elite level and the influence his move to the Emirates Stadium had on his development, Terry Butcher—speaking in partnership with Domino’s ‘Shirtiette’ campaign—shared his insight on the player many expect to wear the England armband one day. He said: “When I moved from Ipswich to Rangers in 1986, the club I joined had achieved much more than the one I left.”

“With Rangers, there were bigger crowds and a rich history. Similarly, moving from West Ham to Arsenal, you can see that Arsenal have a legacy of winning trophies. You feel like you’ve stepped up two or three levels because everything is so much bigger and more demanding.”

“West Ham are going through a tough period at the moment, but Arsenal have always had that winning tradition—especially under Arsène Wenger, who brought consistent success both domestically and in Europe.”

“When I joined Rangers, it made me realise I had to raise my game. Playing for a bigger club pushes you to perform better because everyone wants to beat you even more.”

“When you play for West Ham, teams think, ‘we can beat them’. But when you’re at Arsenal, opponents fear that ‘they could destroy us five or six nil’. You have to step up mentally as well as physically.”

“That mental growth is crucial—it comes with greater responsibility. Being England captain magnifies that responsibility threefold, even fivefold, compared to club level.”

“Declan has now arrived on the global stage. He’s versatile—able to get forward, defend, and control the tempo. He’s an ideal example of a midfield leader driving his team forward.”

“And with Harry Kane leading the line, England have two outstanding leaders who inspire others to follow their example.”

Can England end 60 years of heartbreak in 2026?

Rice helped Arsenal end their 22-year wait for the Premier League title in 2026, becoming part of the first Gunners side to lift the trophy since the famous ‘Invincibles’ of 2003–04.

He now aims to achieve more glory on the international stage with England, who are hoping to end six decades of World Cup disappointment in North America. Butcher, who was part of England’s memorable 1990 World Cup semi-final run, said: “People often criticise England for struggling in knockout matches against top-10 teams.”

“To win the World Cup, you must beat the best. I think we’re now better equipped to do that. The Ghana match gave Thomas Tuchel a clear idea of his strongest lineup.”

“There are players like Bukayo Saka waiting for their chance. Saka came on, had a great attempt, but was denied by a brilliant save from the Ghanaian keeper. He’s a game-changer and deserves to start soon.”

Butcher confident England can take on the world’s elite

Encouraging fans to celebrate passionately, Butcher added: “That performance against Croatia was one of England’s best. There was pure excitement and pride as England scored in the World Cup and defeated top teams.”

“Teams like Brazil, France, Spain, and Germany will attack England because they have the quality to do so, which will make for open, exciting matches.”

“The knockout stages are when England must truly shine. We have the players and a manager capable of pushing them to their limits. If we fall short, it won’t be for lack of effort.”

“This squad excites me, and I’m increasingly impressed by the manager—his communication, passion, and high standards. He reacts strongly when things go wrong but handles the press and players brilliantly. That’s exactly what an England manager should do. I’m eager to see them in the knockouts; I believe we can take on anyone.”

England will conclude their Group L campaign against Panama in New Jersey on Saturday. They have already secured a spot in the round of 32 but are still battling for top position in the group. The goal remains to keep giving their loyal fans reasons to celebrate.

2026 World Cup: Domino’s encourages fans to celebrate freely

Watching football can get messy, and Domino’s has embraced that with the launch of the ‘Shirtiette’—a football jersey made from serviette material, allowing fans to proudly wear their food and drink stains this summer. The pizza brand is offering free ‘Shirtiettes’ to England and Scotland supporters so they can celebrate every goal, penalty, and VAR moment without worry.

Made from absorbent napkin fabric, the ‘Shirtiette’ helps fans soak up pizza sauce spills, cheese mishaps, and topping tumbles during matchdays. Supporters can claim their limited-edition England or Scotland ‘Shirtiette’ through www.dominosshirtiette.com.