Declan Rice's girlfriend targeted by online abuse and stadium chants

Declan Rice and his girlfriend Lauren Fryer have been together since 2016, meeting in high school in their hometown of Chessington. Since then, Lauren has frequently appeared in the stands, witnessing the footballer's journey through Robert Clack School, joining the West Ham academy, and moving to Arsenal.

When Declan Rice received the "Young Player of the Year" award at the London Football Awards, Lauren Fryer wrote on social media: "Dec deserves this achievement."

Although his girlfriend preferred to keep their relationship private, Declan Rice still sent birthday wishes to Lauren on her 19th birthday via his personal page. "Happy 19th birthday to my beautiful girlfriend Lauren Fryer. Looking forward to making more memories with you. Love you," the footballer wrote.

In the summer of 2023, Arsenal signed Declan Rice with a transfer fee of 105 million pounds and a weekly salary of 240,000 pounds. According to Transfermarkt, his market value in 2026 is estimated at 120 million pounds, ranking second in the England national team after Jude Bellingham, a midfielder for Real Madrid.

Despite his fame, Rice is quite private in his personal life, presenting himself as a "family man." Outside of matches, instead of attending lavish parties, he spends all his time with his girlfriend, going for walks in the park and shopping. They welcomed their son, Jude Rice, in 2022.

However, Declan Rice's fame has led to Lauren being attacked on social media. In December 2023, an anonymous account posted a picture of the couple on vacation with the caption: "Declan Rice is a millionaire, a 1.85m elite athlete, but he accepts a fat girl. I don't understand this world anymore." The post attracted 14 million views and sparked a wave of criticism. Many comments agreed, suggesting Rice had "low standards" and advising him to find someone else.

In April 2024, the issue escalated beyond the internet. During the match between Arsenal and Chelsea, a group of rival fans allegedly sang songs with body-shaming lyrics directed at Lauren.

The incident left Lauren devastated. Dani Dyer, girlfriend of West Ham striker Jarrod Bowen, said: "This is very difficult because Lauren is not involved in the celebrity world but is being personally attacked."

In April 2024, Lauren deleted all her photos on Instagram in response to the online mockery and criticism. For over three years, she has almost completely withdrawn from social media and the media.

In the face of public opinion, the England international spoke out in defense of his girlfriend. "Lauren is the only woman in my life and I don't need any upgrades," he said. In interviews, Declan Rice has affirmed that Lauren plays a crucial role as his emotional support. He cherishes the woman who has been with him since he was not famous and poor.

Friends of Rice say he sees Lauren as a solid pillar of support. Unlike the typical image of a footballer's wife/girlfriend (WAGs) with expensive designer items, Lauren is often seen in the stands wearing a simple jersey and carrying their son Jude in a baby carrier. Rice respects this simplicity and has asked Arsenal management to intervene and ban fans from the stadium who insult his family.

At the 2026 World Cup, coach Thomas Tuchel appointed Declan Rice as vice-captain of the England national team. The German strategist expects the midfielder to transfer his dedication from Arsenal to the national team. Along with Marc Guehi and Jordan Henderson, Rice has captained the team under coach Tuchel. Tuchel intends to make Rice a leader in the dressing room for the Three Lions until 2028.

At this World Cup, England is in Group L with Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. The team's opening match will take place at 3 AM on June 18th, Vietnam time.