The manager says the midfielder wants to stay long term, with a deal reportedly close and a January announcement mooted ahead of Sunday’s trip to Liverpool
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says it is only “a matter of time” before Declan Rice signs a new long-term contract at the club. The 27-year-old joined from West Ham for £105m in 2023 and has two years left on his current deal. Talks began earlier this year, and he is understood to be close to an agreement that would take him near Bukayo Saka’s £350,000 a week. Arsenal have not confirmed anything, but Arteta said Rice “is very happy here” ahead of the visit to Anfield on Sunday.
What Arteta said
Asked whether he expected talks to finish soon, Arteta replied: “Yeah. My feeling is that he is very happy here. Every conversation that I have with him, he wants to continue here for the long term. It will be a matter of time when we resolve that.”
He also praised the midfielder’s consistency. “What we are demanding him to do, every year, is very difficult to maintain,” Arteta said. “He’s doing it, big credit to him. Big players for big matches.”
Rice played 69 matches for club and country last season. He was reportedly managing neural pain in his hamstring for much of the campaign and played through it at the summer’s World Cup. He took only three weeks off before pre-season and has started all eight of Arsenal’s Premier League games this season. In 2025-26 he had nine goal contributions in 36 league appearances as Arsenal won their first league title in 22 years, according to Football Insider. BBC Sport reported that he made his 165th Arsenal appearance by 7 October.
The money and the timetable
Reports differ on the terms. FootballTransfers reported in September that Arsenal were preparing a five-year deal worth about £280,000 a week. Other reports suggest close to £350,000. BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel put his current pay at about £240,000 a week. These are media estimates, not club figures.
| Scenario | Weekly | Annual base |
|---|---|---|
| Current contract | £240,000 | £12.48m |
| September proposal | £280,000 | £14.56m |
| Latest reported target | £350,000 | £18.20m |
Calculated from reported weekly figures, excluding bonuses and fees.
Now.arsenal reported on 22 October that further talks are planned for December, with an announcement expected in January 2027, and quoted Fabrizio Romano as saying the length and salary were nearly settled. The club has not confirmed this. BBC Sport reported in March that Rice’s current deal includes a 12-month option, which could keep him at the club until summer 2029.
A wider squad plan
Arsenal are also working on deals for Martin Ødegaard and Jurriën Timber, TEAMtalk reported on 11 October, with the club hoping to make progress during November’s international break. Arteta signed a new four-year deal in early October, and Football Insider reported that Rice’s contract became a priority afterwards.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has previously described Rice as one of Europe’s leading midfielders. Rice has 80 England caps since switching from the Republic of Ireland in 2019.
Ahead of Anfield
Reuters reported on 30 October that Rice and defender Riccardo Calafiori were back in training after fitness concerns. Saka is out with a thigh injury, and 16-year-old Max Dowman misses the game after Arsenal lost their appeal against a three-match ban for a League Cup red card against Fleetwood Town. Arsenal are level on 21 points with the leaders, second on goal difference, and are seeking a first Premier League win at Anfield since 2012.
