If Declan Rice swaps West Ham for Arsenal, when will he return to the London Stadium?

Declan Rice is set to exit West Ham after nine years of service in a claret and blue shirt – and the fixture list reveals when he is set to have a hero’s return at the London Stadium.

The 24-year-old has been club captain at the Hammers, and helped steer the east London side to the Europa Conference League title earlier this month.

But with Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich bowing out of the race to sign Rice this summer, all roads for the midfielder seem to lead to Arsenal. 

In the 2023-24 season, the Gunners host West Ham on Boxing Day – allowing the lucky travelling fans to see Rice in his new home at the Emirates, if the move is finalised.

And it’s only a month and a half before the return fixture, with Arsenal – expected to feature Rice – playing at the London Stadium on Saturday the 10th of February 2024.

The midfielder is expected to leave West Ham after nine years of service to the Hammers

It is anticipated that Rice will receive a warm welcome from West Ham fans for his services to the club, including securing their first European silverware since the 1960s – until kick-off, of course, when both will be desperate to secure the three points for their respective area of London.  

Of course, all fixtures are subject to change, and there is likely to be big media interest in the return of Rice to his former club – so it could be a Sunday fixture instead.

While nothing has yet been confirmed, Rice is expected to move to Arsenal in a transfer that is set to cost the Gunners £100m – making the 24-year-old one of the most expensive players in English football. 

In 2022, Arsenal also played West Ham on Boxing Day, emerging 3-1 winners against Rice’s side. However, the trip to the London Stadium ended in a 2-2 draw with the Hammers turning around an early two-goal deficit to secure their point.