Rice set to commit long-term to Arsenal, according to papers

Declan Rice looks ready to make a major commitment to the Arsenal. As reported by Sky Sports’ Paper Talk, the club are preparing a new contract aimed at keeping the midfielder at the Emirates for at least until the summer of 2031.

The outlet frames this as the next step in Rice’s future: Arsenal want to secure a key piece of the squad with a long-term deal that goes beyond short-term planning. The same Paper Talk roundup also points to other market watch items, including LaLiga clubs tracking Alejandro Garnacho after his spell at Aston Villa, and Manchester United checking potential options to cover for JJ Gabriel, in line with that week’s rumours.

Arsenal’s long-term intent

As Sky Sports notes, the renewal talks are essentially a continuity signal. With Rice central to the team’s structure, agreeing a long contract would help the club build its sporting plan with more stability and less uncertainty.

In practical terms, these negotiations often matter as much for squad planning as for the player himself: locking down core players can shape the rest of the transfer window and reduce the room for distractions.

For now, the information remains at the stage of the club preparing the new deal and Rice being ready to commit, but it’s not presented as an official signature yet. The next step will be confirming the final terms and the contract to make it official.