When Declan Rice met in secret with an important person, the media focused on him.

Declan Rice of Arsenal was seen yesterday having a meeting with Albert ‘Tripp’ Smith, the co-owner of West Ham. Currently holding 8% of West Ham, he is the ultimate owner of WHU LLC.

Rice maintained a tight relationship with American billionaire Smith even when they were fighting side by side. Smith, a member of the West Ham board of directors and a senior executive of the private equity firm The Blackstone Group, acquired a 10% stake in the squad in 2017.

The conference was held in the upscale Mayfair neighbourhood of London at the Oswald Members Club. Rice was dressed in a navy blue shirt, dazzling white shoes and black jacket and trousers. Smith, meanwhile, was spotted sporting a purple tie, a white shirt, and a blue suit.

Princess Anne, Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, and Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece were among the patrons of Oswald’s Members’ Club. Ben Elliot, co-chairman of the Conservative Party, Boris Johnson, and the Beckham family are reportedly among the other well-known patrons. It’s also said that Prince William went to a party there in December of 2022.
The British businessman Robin Birley started it in 2017 and continues to own it. Country & Town House states that yearly membership costs begin at £1,800.

Rice was recently called up to the most recent England roster.