The reason Bukayo Saka only signed a four-year deal, and not a five-year deal in his latest contract extension at Arsenal has now been revealed.
Bukayo Saka signed a new long-term contract extension at Arsenal this week, keeping him at the Emirates Stadium until 2027.
Arsenal originally wanted their number seven to sign a five-year contract extension, however the club had to compromise in order to get the deal agreed before the end of the season.
According to reports, Bukayo Saka’s agent wanted to insert a release clause into the players’ contract, however Arsenal refused and compromised by allowing Saka to sign a short contract extension. The agreement reached was still over a long-term deal that will keep the 21-year-old at the club throughout his prime years.
Arsenal see Bukayo Saka as an integral part of Mikel Arteta’s project and wanted to put extra precautions in place to ensure they keep hold of the 21-year-old moving forward.
Bukayo Saka has had an outstanding season for Arsenal throughout 2022/23, where he’s registered 24 goal contributions across 37 Premier League games this season. The 21-year-old was a big reason why the Gunners could put together a surprising title charge this season which took Manchester City all the way to the end.
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However Saka’s form has dropped off towards the end of the season. It’s now been revealed the winger has been suffering from an achilles problem which he has played through over the last few weeks. The injury isn’t a serious one, although he’s expected to miss Arsenal’s last game of the season against Wolves on Sunday.
Bukayo Saka isn’t the only first-team player to sign a contract extension at Arsenal this season, with Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel and Aaron Ramsdale also putting pen to paper on new long-term deals this term.
Martin Odegaard and William Saliba are expected to follow shortly with talks ongoing between the two players and the club.
Speaking after signing his new deal, Bukayo Saka said: “I’m just really happy. There’s been a lot of talking and it’s been a while, but I’m here now. I think this is the right club, the right place to make the next step. It’s a beautiful club – look where we are.”
“For me, it’s about achieving my personal ambitions; how much I push myself and demand from myself each game, week in, week out.”
“Then I have all the right people around me in terms of family, and when I come to the training ground, my teammates, the coaching staff.”
“I think I have 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.”
Mikel Arteta on Bukayo Saka signing a contract extension: “It’s great for the club that Bukayo has extended his contract. Retaining our best young talents is key to our continued progress and Bukayo represents such an important part of our squad now and for the future.”
“As well as being a fantastic talent, Bukayo is a special person, he’s loved by us all and he is a credit to himself and his family for the hard work and commitment they have all made to get to this level today. Together with our supporters, we’re so looking forward to enjoying Bukayo’s continued development with us in the years to come.”
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