At first glance, Enzo Fernández and Declan Rice seem like parallel figures, mid-20s midfielders carrying nine-figure price tags and serving as the pillars of London’s two biggest clubs. But their styles tell very different stories. Fernández plays like a conductor, threading brilliance through possession. Rice shows up like a dynamo, winning battles, surging forward, and galvanizing his team.
Despite the weight of a US $134 million fee, Chelsea fans have rallied around Fernández. His adaptation wasn’t seamless, but his technical class and leadership have made him one of the few steady presences during turbulent seasons. The phrase “Chelsea tax” once hung over his transfer, but as one supporter put it more recently, he’s looked worth every penny.
At Arsenal, Rice has been adopted as the heartbeat of a revival. Even among Chelsea supporters, there’s an acknowledgment of his qualities. Some have joked that if Fernández could be paired with anyone, Rice would be the ideal fit, because his ball-winning and forward bursts would free Enzo to focus on creativity. It’s a fantasy scenario, but one that reflects how fans see their profiles as opposite yet complementary.
Differing styles, similar impact
In World Cup 2022, Fernández emerged as a World Cup-winning midfielder, directing Argentina‘s tempo, stepping into duels when needed, and earning the Young Player Award. At Chelsea, he’s translated that into influence, leading final-third passes and, more recently, growing into goal contributions, including a standout brace and clutch performances in key fixtures.
Rice’s arc rests on a different progression: a defensive anchor at West Ham, blossoming into a box-to-box force and key contributor at Arsenal. His performances in title chases and European knockouts have shown he’s more than just a destroyer.
Numbers back it up. Fernández edges Rice in progressive passing. Rice leads in carrying the ball forward, defensive duels, and aerial challenges. In 2025, Fernández produced around 13 combined goals and assists. Rice hovered in the same zone, reinforcing his evolution into a complete midfielder.
Their second seasons tell the story even more clearly. In 2024–25, Fernández delivered 6 goals and 7 assists in the Premier League, with 77 key passes that ranked him fifth among midfielders and the most for Chelsea. He completed nearly 1,500 passes, with 139 breaking opposition lines and 22 piercing defensive setups.
Rice, meanwhile, played 35 league matches and scored the decisive goal in a 1–0 win over Newcastle that sealed Arsenal’s Champions League place. He averaged almost 38 completed passes per game and added defensive bite with his highest tackle rates. The accolades followed: Arsenal Player of the Season, a place in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season, and a nomination for Premier League Player of the Season.
What unites them is impact. Each arrives at the pitch differently, but both set their team’s tone.
Their public images match that impact. Arsenal fans even sing that they got Rice “half price,” a tongue-in-cheek chant that flips his $132 million fee into a bargain given how quickly he’s transformed their midfield. On social media, the rivalry is framed as strength versus style or instinct versus intelligence. Yet neither figure is polarizing. Both command respect for drive, professionalism, and the ability to deliver.
