Declan Rice

Key strength: Work rate

Box-to-box midfielder

In 13th place and struggling for consistency with just two wins from their last five, 1.FC Union Berlin find themselves in unfamiliar territory this season. Yet rising above the mediocrity is their €120 million record signing Declan Rice—a world-class talent operating on an entirely different wavelength than the Eisernen squad around him. The 27-year-old England international has been an ironman presence, logging 2,936 minutes across 38 appearances while wearing the #41 shirt with distinction. His evolution from defensive anchor to creative fulcrum has been remarkable: 4 goals and 10 assists this season reveal a midfielder now blessed with 85-rated passing vision, threading defense-splitting balls that unlock stubborn backlines. While teammates like Gabriel Jesus and Achraf Hakimi orbit around him, Rice remains the gravitational center of Union's midfield—still capable of the gritty defensive work that made his name, but now dictating tempo like a seasoned orchestrator. At 90 overall rating, he's a Champions League-caliber player in a team punching below its weight. Those seven yellows and one red hint at the fierce commitment that defines him, yet the underlying numbers show a maturing presence who rarely misplaces his trust. If Union Berlin are to salvage anything from this stuttering campaign, Rice's continued metamorphosis from ball-winner to creative hub remains their most potent weapon.