Declan Rice Closing in on New Long-Term Arsenal Contract

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is close to signing a new long-term deal with the Premier League champions, according to BBC Sport.

His current contract runs out at the end of next season. It was reported in March that talks were under way, and the process is now said to be at an advanced stage.

According to the report, the 27-year-old would get a big pay rise on his reported £240,000-a-week wage. That would put him level with Bukayo Saka, believed to be the club's top earner on about £350,000 a week.

Rice has become a key man for Arsenal since joining from West Ham for £105m in July 2023. He has made more than 150 starts for the club. He is also a big part of the England team, and manager Thomas Tuchel said this week that he is one of the best midfielders in Europe.

The news comes just after Arsenal announced on Wednesday that boss Mikel Arteta had signed a new four-year contract.