Overview
- Multiple outlets, citing BBC Sport, report that negotiations have reached an advanced stage and both sides are close to a formal agreement.
- The proposed package would raise Rice’s reported current pay from about £240,000 per week to roughly £350,000 per week, placing him alongside Bukayo Saka among the club’s top earners.
- Rice’s existing contract runs until the summer of 2028 with an option for an extra year, and the new deal is described as a long-term extension rather than a short-term amendment.
- The renewal is being framed by the club as part of a broader plan to lock down the spine of Mikel Arteta’s side after his new long-term deal and the team’s 2025/26 title.
- Journalists including Fabrizio Romano have signalled that Rice has decided to stay and that final details are being settled, while reports note Real Madrid interest has helped hasten Arsenal’s offer.