Declan Rice still loves West Ham and is very much open to a return to the club one day.

The former Hammers captain, who departed in the summer of 2023 in a record £105m deal to London rivals Arsenal, is once again experiencing a trophyless campaign in north London.

Although this is undoubtedly something that brings joy to many Hammers fans who are still hurting following his exit, its clear that Rice himself still has a lot of connections with West Ham, with a desire to one day be back amongst it in east London.

Coach Mark Philips has recently spoken of Rice’s love for West Ham, as was reported on Football London, with Rice understood to have hinted that he has an eye on returning to the club he still loves dearly.

“He’s left our club and gone to another club, so it’s just for a little bit of that,” said Philips.

“A little bit of spite, a little bit of jealousy, a little bit everything else. But I’ll defend him to the hill, and I would do, and his family. They’re terrific people.

“I’ve even been to one Arsenal game and sat in his box, in a European game. And all he wants to know about when I see him, is what’s happening at West Ham. ‘What’s happening?’ It’s all about West Ham, you know.”

“West Ham is his club. He said to me… he actually said, ‘I’ll come back.’ I can’t say that for certain. If everything is right and it’s aligned, yeah.”

ExWHUEmployee agreed with Philips, admitting that he also sees Rice one day returning, with it clear that he only left for a better chance at fighting for top honors in the game.

“I agree with Mark’s comments I feel Declan misses playing for West Ham,” added Ex. “He wanted to move to win things at Arsenal rather than being unhappy at West Ham.

“I think he was very happy at West Ham, but just felt he had more chance of trophies at Arsenal.

“As it’s transpiring – he isn’t winning anything there and I feel the longer this goes on the more he will miss the place. I can certainly see him returning to the club at the end of his career.”