Declan Rice is reportedly close to agreeing a new contract with Arsenal that will see him receive a significant pay increase, bringing him in line with the club's top earner, Bukayo Saka.
Rice's current deal is due to expire at the end of next season, but Arsenal have moved early to ward off interest from rivals. The midfielder joined the club in a £105million move from West Ham in the summer of 2023 and has become a key figure in Mikel Arteta's side.
Impressive Arsenal record
Rice has made 165 appearances for Arsenal, contributing 21 goals and 33 assists while helping the team win a first Premier League title in 22 years last season. His form has prompted the club to enter into contract negotiations, with BBC Sport reporting that talks have progressed well.
Rice currently earns around £240,000 per week and is expected to jump close to the £350,000-a-week that Saka takes home. Saka became Arsenal's top earner after signing a new four-year contract in February, which was followed by a new deal for Arteta, who committed his future to the Gunners for another four years on Wednesday.
Arteta's praise and leadership role
Arteta is now paid close to £20million per year, making him the best paid manager in the Premier League. Arsenal owners Stan and Josh Kroenke have been keen to secure their top talent, and Rice is considered the next piece of the jigsaw.
“He can adapt to anything that you throw at him,” Arteta said of Rice's importance to the team last season. “But at the moment that forward thinking and anything that is in front of him is probably much more positive for the team.
“He has earned the right to increase that role, to be more and more important, to be very present in everything that we do. He’s in the leadership group, which is very important as well, and it’s a real presence. Sometimes you don’t need to just wear the armband to feel really connected, really powerful and really important in the team.”
International recognition
Rice missed the most recent England camp for the Nations League, but Thomas Tuchel was full of praise for him at the World Cup in the summer. “He is one of the very best midfielders in the world,” the England boss said. “He’s humble, ready to be a team player, ready to give quality and energy to the group. He learns every day in his career.”
Rice, who has 80 caps and eight goals for his country, has made seven appearances for Arsenal across all competitions this season.
