Bukayo Saka has handed Arsenal a major boost by committing his long-term future to the club with a new five-year contract worth around £300,000-a-week.
The England winger will be contracted to the Gunners until 2031, extending his previous deal, which expired in the summer of 2027.
Saka’s future would have been called into question had he approached the end of the season with just 12 months remaining on his contract.
Arsenal always felt confident that their key player would commit to his boyhood club, and an official announcement is set to be imminent.
Bukayo Saka Agrees New Arsenal Contract
Saka’s new deal will reflect his importance to the Arsenal squad and his reputation as one of the best players in the Premier League.
He’s set to be the club’s biggest earner, eclipsing Kai Havertz’s deal worth £280,000-a-week. Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus and defender William Saliba are believed to be just under that figure.
The 24-year-old is a pivotal player in Arsenal’s title charge, having scored four and assisted five in the league this season.
That’s a goal involvement every 158 minutes, which is higher than last season, after managing a goal and assist every 102 minutes on average.
While his numbers are slightly down in comparison to last season, Saka will be key to any Gunners’ success this season.
They are big favourites to win their first title since 2004, while they take on Chelsea in the EFL Cup semi-final.
Arsenal also sit at the top of the Champions League table while they kick-start their FA Cup campaign against Portsmouth this weekend.
Arsenal protecting their assets
Arsenal have been working tirelessly to tie down their biggest names, and Saka is just the latest player to commit his future.
Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have all extended their stays in recent months.
Unlike some of their rivals, Arsenal have no players out of contract at the end of the season and therefore to continue planning long-term to further improve their squad.
Leandro Trossard, Jesus, and Christian Norgaard all have deals until 2027. Gabriel Martinelli, who is set to avoid retrospective action after pushing Conor Bradley, is also out of contract in 18 months.
In November, Arteta said of Saka’s future: “What Bukayo has transmitted to me and the club… is that they want to continue to be here.
“I think it’s a very healthy and powerful relationship. The journey that he has had at the club and what he has become is something we want to maintain. I think that is something that is going to leave a legacy at this football club.
“What I’m very aware of is that he wants to continue with us, that he’s very happy and that he’s in the place that he wants to continue to be.”
