Arsenal reportedly wanted to tie Bukayo Saka to a longer-term contract but settled on four years after reaching a compromise with his representatives.
Following months of speculation, the 21-year-old ended talk of a possible move away from his boyhood club by agreeing to a new deal until the end of the 2026-27 campaign on Tuesday.
The England international's new deal is believed to be worth a staggering £15m per season, seeing him pocket a basic wage of £200,000 per week which could rise to £290,000 with add-ons.
Saka's rapid rise in North London had apparently attracted the interest of Liverpool and Manchester City, who were hitherto keeping tabs on his contract situation with Arsenal.
The attacker's previous terms were due to run until the summer of 2024, but with Mikel Arteta leading the Gunners back into the Champions League for the 2023-24 season, he ultimately agreed to stay on.
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However, there was a sense of disappointment that Saka only signed on for four years rather than five, and his new terms are not thought to include an extension option until 2028.
According to the Daily Mail, Saka only signed a four-year deal after his representatives tried and failed to get Arsenal to insert a release clause into his fresh terms.
Rather than bowing to his agents' demands, the Gunners agreed to a shorter-term deal than many expected, in case Saka ultimately does decide to advance his career elsewhere in a couple of years.
Arsenal will apparently review Saka's situation in 2025, and if no new deal can be agreed in two years' time, the Gunners can still expect to sell him for a hefty fee.
While some sides in the Premier League are happy to copy teams from other European leagues and add release clauses into players' deals, Arsenal have faith in sporting director Edu and his transfer team to negotiate a respectable price.
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Since joining Arsenal's academy at the age of seven, Saka has progressed through the Hale End ranks and made his first-team debut for the Gunners at the age of 17 in November 2018.
The England international has 37 goals and 40 assists to show from 178 matches in red and white, including 13 goals and 11 assists from 37 appearances in the current Premier League season.
Saka was the first player in the 2022-23 English top flight to hit double figures in goals and assists, but Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (19 goals, 11 assists) has since achieved that feat too.
Saka's renewal came only a few days after number one goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale agreed to fresh terms, while Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes have also committed their futures to the club this season.
Captain Martin Odegaard, winger Reiss Nelson and defender William Saliba are expected to be the next in line for new contracts at Arsenal, who end their Premier League campaign at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
