By the time Declan Rice was ready to leave West Ham United for Arsenal in a £105m transfer that made him the most expensive English player of all time, he had already labelled by one broadcaster the “complete midfielder”.

When Rice first burst onto the scene with the Hammers as a teenager, he was viewed differently. His future looked to be as ‘number six’, someone who would screen and shield, potentially becoming a centre-back over time. As such, early comparisons with West Ham legend Bobby Moore were rife.

“I was always labelled [a holding midfielder] that just sits in front of the back four, I really now want to see myself as a box-to-box player where I can get up and down and create things as well as getting back and helping the team as well,” Rice had said while still a West Ham player.

What he is now, is that world class box-to-box midfield engine. He can do the defensive side of the game where he originally excelled, but is not content with being the sitting midfielder and has the energy and quality to impact games in the attacking third as well.

35 goals and assists across his first two seasons at Arsenal, from a player previously viewed as defensive, is testament to that. He’s already scored more goals in 2024/25 than 2023/24 (eight vs seven), while it’s been ten assists in each campaign – there remains time this season to better that.

It’s one of the key reasons that Rice has been chosen by CELSIUS, the fastest growing energy drink in the United States, to be one of the faces of their growing UK expansion.

“As a box-to-box midfielder, fuelling right is key,” Rice said of his involvement with the brand.

“CELSIUS gives me that energy boost with zero sugar, helping me to stay sharp and to combat fatigue so I can go the distance every game.”

Lionesses and Bayern Munich midfielder Georgia Stanway has a similar profile on the pitch, a tenacious midfielder who likes to cover every blade of grass. She too has been adopted by CELSIUS.

“Football is a high-tempo game, you need to stay sharp for 90 minutes and even into extra-time. CELSIUS gives me the energy I need to help me focus, dig deeper, and fight fatigue so I can perform at my best,” she said. “…whether for club or country, or just pushing myself in the gym.”