Arsenal Races to Lock Down Three Star Players with New Contract Deals
Arsenal are said to be preparing contract talks with Declan Rice, while continuing discussions with Bukayo Saka and Jurriën Timber, as they seek to secure their key midfielder's future.
These three players are crucial to Arsenal's achievements as regular starters who have contributed to making the club one of the world's elite teams.
The Gunners have already begun talks with both Saka and Timber to reach agreements on new deals. Discussions appear to be going smoothly and there's confidence about finalizing contracts with both players soon, according to Fabrizio Romano.
However, Arsenal's mission to retain their flourishing talents extends beyond this duo. The club is also eager to begin talks with Declan Rice to present him with a new extended contract that would keep him at the Emirates Stadium for years to come. While this strategy is already underway, Rice's contract extension is anticipated to require considerable time.
The Gunners are presently the leading contenders to claim both the Premier League title and the Champions League trophy. Mikel Arteta's team currently leads the table in both tournaments, though there remains a substantial journey until the season's conclusion.
Among the three players, Saka's existing contract is set to expire earliest. The homegrown talent's agreement runs through the end of the 2026–27 campaign, while Timber and Rice's contracts remain valid until the following season's end.
Still, taking proactive measures demonstrates an overlooked asset of Arsenal's current squad management, which has enabled them to assemble a group that could remain intact well into the future.
Arsenal Are Set for Long-term Excellence
After William Saliba's contract extension, no player in Arsenal's current roster—except for Bayer Leverkusen loanee Piero Hincapié—will have their deal expire in summer 2026.
Should Arsenal choose to do so, they can also activate a purchase option on Hincapié's agreement to complete the transfer permanently. The 15-year-old talent Max Dowman is the sole other player requiring a new contract, but given his age, he cannot yet sign a professional deal. Nevertheless, the club has already developed a strategy to safeguard their young prospect.
Additionally, the contracts of Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Christian Nørgaard are the only ones set to conclude in summer 2027.
Aside from Saka, the remaining three players aren't essential figures in Arteta's setup, having started just two Premier League matches combined this season.
Should Saka's contract renewal come to fruition shortly, the foundation of Arsenal's table-topping squad could remain intact until at least the conclusion of the 2027–28 campaign.