Declan Rice was left visibly distraught during Arsenal's Premier League title celebrations after discovering former club West Ham had been relegated.
The midfielder should have been enjoying one of the greatest moments of his career after helping Arsenal secure the title with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Rice played a key role in the triumph and received one of the loudest cheers of the afternoon when he lifted the Premier League trophy alongside his teammates.
But despite the celebrations unfolding around him, the England international still had one eye firmly fixed on events involving his former club.
Rice famously left West Ham for Arsenal in a £105million move in the summer of 2023 after captaining the Hammers to Europa Conference League Final glory.
And as the title celebrations continued in south London, the 26-year-old briefly stepped away from the festivities to listen to updates from the Premier League relegation battle.
Rice was filmed standing near the touchline as Crystal Palace's stadium announcer read out the latest scores from around the country.
Declan Rice was left visibly distraught during Arsenal's Premier League title celebrations after discovering former club West Ham United had been relegated
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This really hurts to see man…
— Louis ⚒️ (@louisgalman07) May 24, 2026
Declan Rice finding out West Ham are relegated
He still loves us ⚒️🥹#whu #whufc @_DeclanRice pic.twitter.com/S8BhlbCHBf
West Ham had beaten Leeds United 3-0 on the final day, but their survival hopes depended on Tottenham Hotspur dropping points against Everton.
When it became clear Spurs had secured a 1-0 victory to condemn West Ham to relegation, Rice reacted emotionally.
The Arsenal star turned away in frustration before gesturing angrily and walking back towards the pitch.
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Footage of the moment quickly spread across social media, with many West Ham supporters touched by Rice's reaction despite his move across London two years ago.
One fan wrote online: "He's a genuine bloke and a great guy, and a great player too. Deserves all the success he gets."
Another added: "I love this man. Always have, always will.
"This guy is like a throwback to old school. He has loyalty, honour and integrity."
A third supporter posted: "He's proper West Ham. Will always love the bloke."
Declan Rice has finally won the Premier League title with Arsenal
|GETTY
Others praised Rice for still caring deeply about the club where he developed into one of the Premier League's best midfielders.
"He still loves us, he don't want West Ham to go down," one fan wrote.
Rice spent almost a decade at West Ham after emerging through the club's academy before becoming captain and one of the most influential players in recent Hammers history.
The Arsenal star will now attempt to complete a historic double next weekend when Paris Saint-Germain await in the Champions League Final in Budapest.