ARSENAL REACH NEW FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION AGREEMENT WITH STAR FORWARD BUKAYO SAKA
Arsenal have reached an agreement with star forward Bukayo Saka on a new four-year extension, the club confirmed the news on Tuesday.
News of a possible new long-term contract between Saka and Arsenal had been featured on the tabloids in recent weeks but fans began to suspect that their wait could be over when a report surfaced on social media on Monday claiming that the England international was at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium for a media shoot with Arsenal legend Ian Wright. The result of Monday’s media shoot turned out to be the club’s announcement video of the new extension with young Bukayo Saka.
As per European journalist, Fabrizio Romano, Saka and the Gunners had already reached a verbal agreement regarding the new deal back in February and the contract signing this week was merely a formality. Saka’s new deal is subject to the completion of regulatory processes but no hiccups in the processes are expected.
The club released a video on their social media with a short statement from Saka, in which he said, “My Arsenal family, the contract is signed. I’m here to stay so, many more years with you guys. See you all soon.”
Saka has seen an improvement in his game in each of the five years he’s been in the league, going from 11 goals last season to 13 goals this season. Not only is Saka one of the Premier League’s most electric players, but he’s also one of the healthiest. The one-time Premier League Player of the Month featured in every single Premier League match for the Gunners over the past two seasons and is a staple of the team’s attack. Saka has scored 14 goals across all competitions this season, to go along with a staggering 11 assists.
“It has been so enjoyable to work with everyone to extend Bukayo’s contract,” Arsenal Sporting Director Edu Gaspar said in a statement on Tuesday. “It is a very proud moment for us all at the club, to work hard with Bukayo and experience his great journey from our academy through to our first team. Bukayo has now developed into one of the best young players in the game and we’re looking forward to enjoying together this next stage of his career with us.”
Saka has been with the North London giants for the entirety of his football career, joining the Gunners at the tender age of eight as part of the club’s Hale End Academy. The Ealing-born forward would make his debut for Arsenal just a few weeks after his 17th birthday on a freezing cold night in Kyiv, Ukraine back in Nov. 2018 as the Gunners faced Vorskla Poltava in a Europa League group stage match.
“We talk about strong young Gunners, and he’s the role model,” said academy manager Per Mertesacker. “Within our club, he inspires the staff, the young players, and everyone to get better. He inspires not just with what he does on the pitch, but with his behavior, and what he does in the community. It’s really amazing that we can show parents of young players Bukayo’s pathway as an example of what we mean when we say we want to create strong young Gunners.”
The 21-year-old doesn’t turn 22 until early next season but is already approaching 200 appearances for the club, and is the top scorer in the squad with 37 total goals, as well as top assist provider (37). Saka has also won the Arsenal Player of the Season award in the past two seasons (2020-21 and 2021-22), and is the first player to retain the honor since Thierry Henry in 2005.
“It is great for the club that Bukayo has extended his contract,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “Retaining our best young talents is key to our continued progress and Bukayo represents such an important part of our squad now and for the future.
“As well as being a fantastic talent, Bukayo is a special person. He’s loved by us all and he is a credit to himself and his family for the hard work and commitment they have all made to get to this level today. Together with our supporters, we’re so looking forward to enjoying Bukayo’s continued development with us in the years to come.”
Arsenal have an option to extend Martin Ødegaard’s current contract until June 2026 but are expected to commence negotiations over a new long term deal in due time. Ødegaard’s current deal expires in June 2025 but the Norwegian is due a raise in his weekly wages.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Tasnim News Agency. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.