London Football Awards: Declan Rice crowned Player of the Year [Full list of winners]

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was honored as the Player of the Year at the prestigious London Football Awards on Thursday evening.

In a heartfelt speech delivered after receiving the award for the Men’s game at The Roundhouse in Camden, Rice, who made the move to Arsenal from West Ham last year, expressed his gratitude and emotions. The England international shared, “Since I have walked through the doors [at Arsenal], I have loved every single moment of it.”

“As time has gone on and the games have progressed, I have aimed to be confident and give my best for the team,” Rice continued. “So far, we have been performing really well, and hopefully, we can finish the season strongly.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was recognized as the Young Player of the Year, showcasing the depth of talent in London football.

Tottenham’s head coach Ange Postecoglou secured the Manager of the Year award, edging out Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. Additionally, Spurs’ goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was celebrated as the Goalkeeper of the Year for his outstanding performances.

Chelsea’s stars also shined at the event, with Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones receiving accolades as the WSL Player of the Year and Women’s Young Player of the Year, respectively.