Declan Rice is close to finalising a new long-term contract with Arsenal as the Premier League champions move to secure one of their most important players.
The England midfielder joined the Gunners from West Ham United for £105m in July 2023 and has since established himself as a central figure in Mikel Arteta’s side.
Rice’s existing agreement runs until the end of next season, but discussions over an extension have progressed significantly after opening earlier this year. The 27-year-old is now understood to be approaching an agreement on improved terms.
Since arriving in north London, Rice has made 165 appearances for Arsenal and played a major role in the club’s Premier League title triumph last season, which ended a 22-year wait for the trophy.
A new contract is also expected to bring a substantial salary increase. Rice is reportedly earning around £240,000 per week under his current deal, while the proposed extension could place him alongside Arsenal’s highest-paid players. Bukayo Saka is believed to earn approximately £350,000 per week.
Rice recently withdrew from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad ahead of a three-week international camp, although he remains one of the national team’s most experienced midfielders. He has collected 80 England caps since switching allegiance from the Republic of Ireland in 2019.
He is expected to return to club action when Arsenal host Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 BST.
The progress on Rice’s contract follows another major commitment from Arsenal, with manager Arteta signing a new four-year deal that was announced on Wednesday.