Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice has been banned from driving after being caught speeding twice on the same stretch of road within just five days.
The high-profile footballer, who completed a British record £105 million move to Arsenal in 2023, was handed a six-month driving ban following a court hearing earlier this week.
The 26-year-old was clocked exceeding the speed limit on the A217 near his multi-million-pound Surrey home on two separate occasions in January last year.
According to court records, Rice was first caught on January 3 driving his £40,000 Land Rover at 37mph in a 30mph zone.
Just five days later, on January 8, he was again stopped on the same road after travelling at 49mph in a 40mph zone.
Rice did not attend Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where the case was dealt with in his absence.
The court heard that the England international already had six penalty points on his licence prior to the two offences.
As a result, the additional points imposed for the speeding incidents took him to a total of 15 points, triggering an automatic driving ban under the “totting up” system.
Magistrates banned Rice from driving for six months and ordered him to pay a total of £2,185. This figure includes a £1,500 fine, a £600 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.
The ban means the Arsenal star will be unable to drive until later this year unless exceptional hardship is successfully argued, which was not the case during this hearing.
The offences took place close to Rice’s £3 million mansion in Surrey, where he lives with his long-term partner Lauren Fryer, also 26, and their young son.
Despite his enormous wealth and footballing success, the case highlights that professional athletes are subject to the same motoring laws as the general public.
Rice’s driving ban comes during a crucial period in his career, although it is not expected to impact his availability for Arsenal or England duties, as professional footballers typically travel to training and matches via club transport.
However, the incident has still attracted widespread attention due to Rice’s profile as one of the Premier League’s most recognisable stars.
Declan Rice began his football journey at Chelsea’s academy in 2006 before being released and joining West Ham United’s youth setup.
He signed his first professional contract with the Hammers in 2015 and went on to establish himself as one of the club’s most influential players.
In 2023, Rice captained West Ham to Europa Conference League glory, lifting the trophy after a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the final.
That summer, he completed a blockbuster transfer to Arsenal, becoming the most expensive British player in history at the time.
Since joining Mikel Arteta’s side, Rice has been a key figure in Arsenal’s midfield, earning praise for his leadership, consistency and performances at the highest level.
Despite the driving ban, Rice remains one of England manager Gareth Southgate’s most trusted players and is expected to continue playing a central role for both club and country.
The case serves as a reminder that even elite sports stars are not immune from everyday legal consequences, particularly when it comes to road safety and speeding offences.