Rice prepared to commit long-term future to Arsenal, UK papers report

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is set to extend his stay at the Emirates, according to multiple UK newspapers pointing to an imminent new agreement.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is set to extend his stay at the Emirates, with multiple UK newspapers pointing to an imminent new agreement for the England international.

The story surfaced in the daily "Papers" round-up, a fixture of outlets including Sky Sports and the BBC. Rice has been central to Mikel Arteta's midfield since his £105m move from West Ham in 2023.

Arsenal have not commented publicly on the talks. No terms have emerged — not the length, not the wage structure, not the bonuses. The story originates from UK newspaper coverage rather than any official club channel. A new agreement would underline Rice's importance to Arteta's project and lock down one of the squad's most influential players for the long term.

His willingness to extend comes alongside Arsenal's separate push to retain Arteta, with the manager's renewal reported as signed by Sky Sports and others after weeks of speculation. The sequencing is clear: Arteta's project first, then the players who carry it. Rice's reported readiness is the first player-side piece to fall into place.

West Ham, who sold Rice for £105m in 2023, retain no further leverage from the move. For Arsenal, the calculation is simple: secure the manager, then the midfield.