Rice Close to New Arsenal Mega-Deal Worth £350k a Week

Declan Rice is on the verge of committing his future to Arsenal with a blockbuster new contract, according to BBC Sport. Senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel reports the England midfielder is close to agreeing a long-term extension that would lift his wages to around £350,000 a week — a huge rise on his current deal and enough to put him alongside Bukayo Saka as the club's top earner. Rice's present contract runs until 2028, with Arsenal holding an option for a further year, but the Gunners are moving to reward his role in last season's Premier League title triumph. Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano added his own confirmation that the club are closing in on the agreement. The news lands a day after Mikel Arteta signed a new four-year deal keeping him in charge until 2030, and with captain Martin Odegaard also reported to be in talks over fresh terms, Arsenal are clearly locking down the spine of their title-winning side. Rice, 27, has been a cornerstone since his £105 million move from West Ham in July 2023, racking up 165 appearances with 21 goals and 33 assists. Tying him down on elite wages sends a loud message to the rest of Europe's contenders: this Arsenal project is not breaking up any time soon.