According to BBC Sport, Declan Rice is close to signing a new long-term contract with Arsenal that will secure him a significant pay rise on his already hefty wages.
The England international joined the Gunners from West Ham in the summer of 2023 for an initial £100 million, with a further £5 million due in add-ons. It was a club-record deal and a statement of Arsenal’s ambition as they attempted to close the gap on Manchester City.
Rice has since established himself as a lynchpin of Mikel Arteta’s midfield and an influential voice in the dressing room. His leadership was evident after April’s defeat at the Etihad when, with momentum in the title race seemingly swinging away from north London, he was caught telling his teammates: “It’s not done.”
Those words proved prophetic. Arsenal recovered to end their 22-year wait for the Premier League title, and the moment has since become one of the defining images of the run-in.
Rice has made 165 appearances since moving to the Emirates, scoring 21 goals and providing 33 assists. Those numbers comfortably eclipse his attacking output at West Ham and reflect his evolution from a predominantly defensive midfielder into one of the most complete players in the Premier League.
His current contract runs until 2028, with Arsenal holding the option of a further year, so there was no immediate pressure to reach an agreement. However, the club are keen to reward his performances and ensure one of their most important players remains in north London throughout his prime.
If Rice was not quite half-price, nobody can seriously question whether Arsenal have received value for money.
With Mikel Arteta extending his stay and Martin Odegaard reportedly in talks over fresh terms, the club appear determined to maintain the foundations of their recent success. Contracts do not guarantee trophies, but keeping the manager, captain and midfield heartbeat together feels like a sensible place to start.