Arsenal fans had something big to celebrate this week as Declan Rice was officially crowned the FSA Men’s Player of the Year 2025, an award decided entirely by supporters across the UK. It’s another huge milestone in Rice’s Arsenal journey, and one that reflects just how quickly he has become the heartbeat of Mikel Arteta’s team.
The Football Supporters’ Association confirmed that Rice topped more than 400,000 fan votes, beating top names like Erling Haaland, Moisés Caicedo, Ryan Gravenberch, Antoine Semenyo, and Jean-Philippe Mateta. He becomes the first Arsenal player to win the award since Alexis Sánchez in 2015.
Rice reacted to the news with genuine gratitude, calling it a “massive privilege” and thanking supporters for backing him throughout the season. He even laughed about one of the standout moments of his Arsenal career, joking that he has replayed his Champions League free-kick against Real Madrid “over 50 times.”
The night also brought double joy for the club, as Alessia Russo won the FSA Women’s Player of the Year award, giving Arsenal a rare sweep on both sides of the game.
Rice’s win comes as no surprise to Arsenal fans who have watched him transform their midfield adding power, composure, leadership, and match-winning moments since arriving from West Ham. He had become the team’s emotional and tactical anchor. We say this is a deserved award for a player who has been nothing short of outstanding.