Declan Rice is closing in on a new long-term deal at Arsenal believed to be worth around £350,000 per week.The contract will put Rice, 27, on a level footing with Bukayo Saka at the top of the club’s salary list. Rice joined Arsenal in 2023 and has established himself as the fulcrum of their midfield, helping steer them to the Premier League title last season. He played 55 games in all competitions last season as the Gunners reached their first Champions League final since 2006, but lost out to Paris Saint-Germain. His contract talks have been ongoing for a long time – at least since March – but are reaching a head. Rice’s current deal expires in 2028. Arsenal’s £105million fee to sign him from West Ham is looking a far wiser investment than most other footballers who have been bought for over £100m. Declan Rice is close to signing a new £350,000-per-week long-term contract with Arsenal Premier League’s highest earners 1) Erling Haaland, Manchester City – £525,0002) Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool – £350,000 3) Enzo Fernandez, Manchester City – £350,000 4) Bukayo Saka, Arsenal – £350,0005) Declan Rice, Arsenal – £350,000 *contingent on new deal6) Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United – £320,0007) Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool – £320,0008) Cody Gakpo, Liverpool – £310,0009) Phil Foden, Manchester City – £300,00010) Marcus Rashford, Manchester United – £300,000 <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/sport/football/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
Rice has also become highly influential for England and manager Thomas Tuchel said in June: ‘I’m proud to be his coach.’He is one of the very best midfielders in the world. 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.’Tuchel also said separately: ‘He has a high football IQ. He takes care of the formation and structure, the adaptation, and the rhythm of our game. ‘He’s had two outstanding seasons with Arsenal – one of their main players in their Champions League campaign. He’s one of the best midfielders in Europe at the moment, full of confidence. That’s why he is my vice-captain.’Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said of him last season: ‘He can adapt to anything that you throw at him.’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.’