Daily Mail

SAKA’S £80M MEGA DEAL

Star becomes Arsenal’s top earner as they tie him down until 2031

- By ISAAN KHAN Sports · Soccer · Soccer Business · Arsenal F.C. · England · England national football team · Kai Havertz · William Saliba · Gabriel · Manchester City Football Club · Manchester · UEFA Champions League · Portsmouth F.C. · Portsmouth · The Football Association · Chelsea F.C. · Ethan Nwaneri · Sheffield Wednesday F.C.

BUKAYO SAKA has agreed a five-year extension at Arsenal that will make him their highest earner on about £300,000 a week.

The 24-year-old England forward was under contract until 2027 but is now committed to his boyhood club until 2031, with a new deal expected to net him close to £80million in that time.

The club’s previous highest-paid player, Kai Havertz, is thought to earn £280,000 a week, and Saka’s new status at the top of the Gunners’ wage table reflects his position as one of Europe’s best players.

Saka, who will expect to play a leading role in England’s World Cup tilt this summer, joins William Saliba and Gabriel in agreeing new long-term deals.

Ethan Nwaneri and Myles-lewis Skelly, who like Saka are academy graduates, also agreed new terms in the past six months, with the club moving quickly to tie down their best talents. Arsenal also invested £250m on signing eight new players in the summer.

Saka has been a key figure in the club’s recent title challenges, with 40 league goals since the start of the 2022 season and 54 in all competitio­ns. He has scored seven times so far this season with Arsenal still fighting on four fronts.

The Gunners hold a six-point lead over Manchester City in the league and are top of the Champions League table. They play at Portsmouth in the FA Cup tomorrow before facing Chelsea on Wednesday in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Green giant: Arthur Okonkwo saves in the shootout to send Wrexham through
GETTY IMAGES Green giant: Arthur Okonkwo saves in the shootout to send Wrexham through

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