Declan Rice is close to signing a new long-term contract with Arsenal, according to BBC Sport, in a move that would put the England midfielder alongside Bukayo Saka as the club's highest-paid player.
Talks over an extension have been progressing for several months and are now at an advanced stage, with a formal agreement expected to follow. Rice's current deal runs until 2028, with the club also holding an option to extend it by a further year, so there is no immediate pressure — but Arsenal want to reward one of their most important players and lock down his future through his prime.
The 27-year-old currently earns a reported £240,000 a week. The new agreement would bring a significant pay rise to around £350,000 a week, putting him on a par with Saka, Arsenal's best-paid player.
Arteta's midfield linchpin rewarded
Rice has been central to everything Arsenal have built since joining from West Ham United in the summer of 2023 for an initial £100 million, a club-record deal at the time. He has since made 165 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 21 goals and providing 33 assists — attacking numbers that eclipse his output at West Ham and reflect his evolution into one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League.
His physical presence, passing range and ability to cover ground have made him an automatic starter for the Premier League champions, while his leadership has grown just as fast. It was Rice who was caught telling his teammates "it's not done" after a damaging April defeat at the Etihad, a moment that became a defining image of Arsenal's run-in as they ended their 22-year wait for the Premier League title.
The development comes just a day after Mikel Arteta signed a new four-year contract keeping the manager at the club until 2030, underlining how aggressively the champions are moving to secure the foundations of their success.
England vice-captain at his peak
Rice has won 80 caps for England since switching his international allegiance from the Republic of Ireland in 2019. He was named England vice-captain under Thomas Tuchel and remains firmly established at international level, despite withdrawing from the squad during the recent camp as a load-management precaution.
Tuchel has previously described Rice as one of the "best midfielders in Europe" — high praise that says everything about his standing. Arsenal are also understood to be working on fresh terms for captain Martin Odegaard, meaning the club could tie down its manager, its captain and its midfield heartbeat all in the same season.
What next for the Gunners
With Rice nearing an agreement, Arsenal can focus on the pitch. They are expected to have their vice-captain available when they host Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday, eager to bounce back after a shock 3-0 defeat at Brighton in their last outing.
Beyond the Final Whistle: securing Rice alongside Arteta is a statement of intent from the Premier League champions — the manager, the captain and now the midfield engine all committed to the project. Will Rice's new deal be the platform for a successful title defence? Have your say below.
