"A new contract is hopefully on the horizon soon and I'm extremely lucky to be at a club like Arsenal where the manager shows me so much trust and team-mates who put so much energy in to me." That line from Declan Rice, quoted by bbc.co.uk, is the clearest sign yet that Arsenal are moving towards a new deal with one of their most important players. His current contract still runs until 2028, so this is about reward and long-term planning rather than urgency.

BBC Sport first revealed on 7 October that Rice was set to sign a new long-term deal at Emirates Stadium. Rice arrived in 2023 in a deal worth £105m, and Arsenal's push to tie him down now looks like a club protecting one of the pillars of its squad.

Rice's own update on the deal

Public contract updates from players are usually vague. Rice was not especially vague here. He said a new agreement is hopefully close and framed it around trust from Mikel Arteta and the dressing room, which fits the wider story around him at Arsenal.

That part matters. Rice is not speaking like a player testing the market or hinting at frustration. He is speaking like someone settled at the club and expecting talks to reach the finish line.

The fact his deal expires in 2028 also changes the tone around this. Arsenal are not being forced into action by a short contract. They are trying to secure one of their top performers early, while his standing in the team is obvious and while the club are in a strong position.

Arsenal's reason for moving now

Rice told standard.co.uk: "I’ve been extremely lucky that I’ve managed to play at such a consistent level throughout my career". Arsenal's numbers this season give that claim some backing.

He has made 10 Premier League appearances already and has 5 Premier League goal contributions. In Europe, he has started 4 Champions League matches. For a midfielder signed for £105m, that is the kind of all-competition involvement Arsenal expected when they brought him in from West Ham in 2023.

There is also the broader team context. Arsenal are first in the Premier League with 27 points from 10 matches, holding a five-point lead. Extending Rice in that moment makes sense. Clubs at the top do not wait for avoidable contract noise around core players.

One number from the performance data is worth keeping in view too. Rice has a 7.4 Premier League rating this season, rounded from 7.37, which fits the idea of a player delivering week after week rather than living off a handful of big moments.

The numbers debate around Rice

Rice's own line about his output has invited plenty of argument because different outlets have cited different long-term totals since he joined Arsenal. The Daily Mail has reported 22 goals and 33 assists, while the Independent has reported 15 goals and 25 assists in 129 Premier League appearances.

The safer ground is his verified league return this season, 5 goal contributions, plus his 10 appearances in the Premier League and 4 Champions League starts. That is enough to show why Arsenal want him tied down without stretching into disputed career totals.

Graeme Souness has questioned Rice's midfield game in harsher terms than most, but Arsenal are judging him by reliability, availability and influence in a side sitting first after 10 matches. On that evidence, the club's faith looks well placed.

Rice's update did not include a date, but it did include the key point. He expects a new Arsenal contract to arrive soon, and the club have every reason to get it done while they lead the league by five points.

FAQ

Will Declan Rice sign a new Arsenal contract soon?

Rice says a new contract is hopefully on the horizon soon, which is the strongest public sign yet that talks are close. BBC Sport had already reported on 7 October that he was set to sign a new long-term deal at Arsenal, even though his current contract still runs until 2028.

Why are Arsenal moving to extend Declan Rice's deal now?

The timing lines up with Rice's importance to the team and Arsenal's strong start. He has made 10 Premier League appearances this season, has 5 league goal contributions, and has also started 4 Champions League matches. Arsenal are first in the Premier League with 27 points from 10 matches and a five-point lead.

How important is Declan Rice to Arsenal under Mikel Arteta?

Rice's own comments point to a strong relationship with Arteta, saying the manager shows him so much trust. His workload backs that up. He has already played 10 league matches this season and started 4 in the Champions League, which shows he is central to Arsenal's plans across competitions.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →