Declan Rice says new Arsenal contract is ‘on the horizon’

Declan Rice says a new Arsenal contract is “hopefully on the horizon soon”, offering an encouraging update on talks over his future.

The midfielder was speaking on England duty in Madrid ahead of Sunday’s Nations League game against Spain. His current deal runs until the summer of 2028.

Declan Rice new contract: what he said

“A new contract is hopefully on the horizon soon,” Rice said, as reported by Arseblog.

He added that having his club future settled helps him on the pitch: “I’m extremely lucky not to have to worry about that stuff, and it makes playing football far more easier.”

Where talks stand

BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel first reported on 7 October that Rice was set to sign a new long-term deal at the Emirates. We covered that at the time in our piece on Declan Rice’s contract talks.

The BBC reported in October that the proposed terms would put Rice alongside Bukayo Saka among Arsenal’s highest earners. Arsenal reportedly have an option to extend his current deal by a further year.

The proposed contract’s length and salary have not been officially confirmed.

Why Rice matters to Arsenal

Rice joined from West Ham in 2023 for £105m. Since then, Arsenal have won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years and reached last season’s Champions League final, with Rice a central part of both.

Arteta signed his own new deal until June 2030 in October, and keeping Rice would secure another key part of the side he has built.

What Arteta has said

Arteta has already made clear he expects Rice to stay. “My feeling is that he’s very happy here,” the Arsenal boss said. “Every conversation I have with him, he wants to continue here for the long term, and it will be a matter of time when we resolve that.”

Arsenal have not announced a new deal, and the length and terms remain unconfirmed.

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Declan Rice new contract: FAQ

Is Declan Rice signing a new Arsenal contract?
Rice says a new deal is “hopefully on the horizon soon”, but Arsenal have not announced anything.

When does Declan Rice’s contract expire?
Summer 2028. Arsenal reportedly have an option to extend it by a further year.

How much did Arsenal pay for Declan Rice?
£105m, when he joined from West Ham in 2023.