Arsenal boost as Saka signs new ‘long-term’ contract amid lingering interest from Man City

Arsenal have confirmed that England international Bukayo Saka has signed a new ‘long-term contract’ amid reports linking him with Man City.

Tying Saka down to a new long-term contract has been one of Arsenal’s priorities over the past couple of months.

The winger has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season as Arsenal have mounted an unexpected challenge for the title.

He has grabbed 13 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League and Mikel Arteta is likely desperate to build his team around Saka moving forward.

Back in March, it was claimed that a new deal for Saka is set to be announced as he ‘will earn close to £15million a season when he finally signs his new contract with Arsenal’.

The Premier League giants confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that their prized asset has put pen to paper on a new ‘long-term’ deal, which is believed to last for four years.

His previous contract was up in 2024 and he has been linked with rivals Man City. It was claimed earlier this year by journalist Ben Jacobs that Saka’s new deal will include a “player-led clause” that would enable him to leave in the future.

“There was genuine interest from Manchester City,” Jacobs told TEAMtalk. “But even Manchester City felt like it was a case of playing the long game.

“And the beauty when you’re in the form of Saka and you’re negotiating is that there’s always a possibility of inserting player-led clauses that effectively allow you to have your cake and eat it.

“Six months or so ago, that was perhaps the thinking on Saka’s side that he had the desire to stay at Arsenal. And he knew that of course, the club would pull out stops to try and keep him so in the short term, the player was always untouchable.

“And then in the long term, can the player get something that says: Well, if the project changes, for example, no Champions League football, you have the opportunity to leave at which point suitors realise that they might stand a chance in the long term but not in the short term.”

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Saka recently took time to praise Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta as the Spaniard has taught him “a lot”.

“I’ve learnt a lot and I’m progressing in the right way, so I’m happy,” Saka told the club’s official website. “I just hope at the end of the season those goals and assists will be very important and they’ll mean a lot for the team.

“[Arteta] has taught me a lot, and I have to thank him for the way I’m developing because a lot of it is because of what he’s doing for me. You have to be ready for everything that comes, and that’s one thing that I have tried to do – be ready for every moment and try to take it.”

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