Pay rise incoming! Declan Rice close to signing new Arsenal deal

Arsenal are on the verge of tying down one of the most important pieces of Mikel Arteta's midfield. Declan Rice is close to agreeing a new long-term contract at the Emirates, with negotiations now at an advanced stage.

Details: According to BBC Sport, the 27-year-old England international is set to receive a significant pay rise on his reported £240,000-per-week salary, which would put him on par with the club's top earner Bukayo Saka [citation:2]. Rice's current deal runs until the end of next season, but Arsenal have moved quickly to reward his status as a central figure in the squad. Since arriving from West Ham for £105 million in July 2023, Rice has made over 150 starts for the Gunners and developed into a leader on and off the pitch.

• Also read: Arsenal vs Leeds United prediction

The timing of the agreement is significant, coming just days after Arsenal announced a new four-year deal for manager Mikel Arteta [citation:2]. With the futures of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri already secured, the club is systematically locking down the core of a squad that won the Premier League title last season. Negotiations with Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and David Raya are also expected to follow, though the situation surrounding Raya has raised questions after the club pursued Joan Garcia from Espanyol before he joined Barcelona [citation:1]. England manager Thomas Tuchel recently described Rice as one of the best midfielders in Europe, underlining his importance at international level as well [citation:2].

It's worth noting that Rice remains a vital cog in Arsenal's engine room, with the club valuing him at around €120 million according to Transfermarkt estimates [citation:17]. His current £240,000 weekly wage already places him among the highest earners at the Emirates, but the new deal will bring him into the same bracket as Saka, who is believed to earn approximately £350,000 per week [citation:2]. For a player who has become the heartbeat of Arsenal's midfield, the new contract represents a statement of intent from a club determined to build a dynasty around its most reliable performers.

Reminder: Declan Rice agrees new Arsenal contract.