Rice Closes-in-on New Long Term Arsenal Contract

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is closing in on a new long-term contract with the Premier League champions, with negotiations now at an advanced stage.

The 27-year-old England international has become a key figure at Arsenal since joining the club from West Ham United for a reported £105 million in July 2023.

Rice’s current contract is due to expire at the end of next season, but talks over an extension, which began earlier this year, have made significant progress.

The proposed deal is expected to include a substantial increase in Rice’s wages. He currently earns a reported £240,000 a week, with the new terms expected to put him on a similar salary to Arsenal’s highest-paid player, Bukayo Saka, who is understood to earn about £350,000 per week.

Rice has made 165 appearances for Arsenal and played a key role in the club’s first Premier League title triumph in 22 years last season.

His performances have also established him as an important member of the England squad. Rice has won 80 international caps since switching his allegiance from the Republic of Ireland in 2019.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has previously described Rice as one of the best midfielders in Europe.

Rice withdrew from Tuchel’s England squad ahead of the recent three-week international camp but is expected to return to action for Arsenal when they host Leeds in the Premier League on Saturday.

The development comes a day after Arsenal confirmed that manager Mikel Arteta had signed a new four-year contract with the reigning Premier League champions.

The club’s move to secure Arteta and now Rice on long-term deals underlines its intention to maintain the core of the squad that delivered its first league title in more than two decades.