By Declan Rice has revealed a special surprise from global pop star Ed Sheeran — a signed acoustic guitar celebrating the Arsenal midfielder’s stunning free kicks in the Champions League quarterfinal against Real Madrid.
Rice, who scored two incredible free kicks in the first leg of the 5-1 aggregate victory, played a pivotal role in sending Arsenal to the semifinals, where they’ll now face Paris Saint-Germain.
The surprise gift came after Arsenal thrashed Ipswich Town 4-0 at Portman Road on Sunday. Interestingly, Ed Sheeran is a minority stakeholder in Ipswich and his current “+-=÷x” tour sponsors their matchday kits.
After the game, Rice took to Instagram to show off the gift — a personalized acoustic guitar from Sheeran. The message on it read: “Declan! You play this next time I see you, we’ll have a sing-along. P.S. killer free kicks!”
The gift also nods to the pair’s friendship, which began when they performed a duet during England’s Euro 2020 campaign. Their bond continues to grow off the pitch, with Sheeran often praising Rice’s musical side.
Rice and Arsenal now prepare for their upcoming Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Wednesday as they continue their hunt for silverware on multiple fronts.
