Arsenal have confirmed that Bukayo Saka has signed a new long-term contract. The England international has been at the club since he was eight years old, and has grown to become one of Arsenal’s most influential players. Despite being just 21 years old, Saka has notched up 178 first-team appearances.
Across all competitions, the winger has bagged fourteen goals for the Gunners this season – registering an additional eleven assists. He’ll be hoping those numbers are enough to be crowned as the club’s Player of the Year for a third consecutive season.
Saka’s Arsenal debut came almost five years ago, as he starred in the Europa League as a seventeen year old. Just two months later, he featured in the Premier League – and that would be the start of a sensational career.
His international debut came in October 2020, and less than a year later he was one of the key players as England made it to the final of the postponed EURO 2020 tournament. In doing so, he became the youngest player to star for the national team in a major final – but unfortunately Saka faced racist abuse after missing a decisive penalty.
Mikel Arteta and the club’s Sporting Director, Edu, have expressed their delight at Saka’s decision to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium. In an statement released on the club’s website, Edu stated that ‘Bukayo has now developed into one of the best young players in the game and we’re looking forward to enjoying together this next stage of his career with us.‘
Bukayo represents such an important part of our squad now and for the future.
Mikel Arteta, speaking to Arsenal.com
The new deal is expected to keep Saka in North London until 2027, and he’s been open about how he feels having put pen to paper. In an interview with the club’s website, Saka said that he thinks ‘this is the right club, the right place to make the next step.’ The youngster was full of praise for the club’s staff, adding that he believes he has ‘everything I need to become the best player I can be, and that’s why I’m happy to stay here and be here for the future, because I really believe that we can achieve big things.‘