Arsenal made significant progress on a new deal for Bukayo Saka just before the winger left for the World Cup, with claims it was verbally agreed before the tournament.

Arsenal's English midfielder Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 1, 2023. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s English midfielder Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 1, 2023. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Though it was only last week that news broke of Bukayo Saka’s agreement in principle to extend his contract with Arsenal, a new deal has reportedly been broadly in place for a while now.

Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail was first to report that Arsenal were closing in on a deal, and Mokbel now claims that the defining moment of the saga was just before the World Cup.

With Saka about to leave for Qatar, Arsenal made an improved offer to his representatives, which was reportedly significantly more in line with what they believe the winger is worth.

A broad verbal agreement was struck then, with the details ironed out last week.

Saka sealed the deal in November Daily Mail2 Mar 2023 As MailOnline first revealed last Thursday, Bukayo saka has agreed a new contract with Arsenal. The deal will be worth a minimum of £10million a season, but in reality it is worth closer to £15m with bonuses. A deal in principle was reached last week but the defining moment arrived in November, days before saka left for the World cup. The Gunners, just prior to England’s departure for Qatar, made a last ditch effort to improve the terms on offer before the start of the tournament knowing full well the consequences if saka went on to become one of the stars of the World cup. The revised offer was significantly more in line with what saka is worth and a broad verbal agreement was struck, with the finer details ironed out last week.
Daily Mail, 2 march 2023

The contract hasn’t yet been signed, and David Ornstein wrote last Thursday that it “may take some time to finalise”, but everything now seems to be in place.

The deal is worth a minimum of £10m a season, but Mokbel reports that with all details taken into account, it’s closer to £15m.

That likely includes various bonuses, loyalty payments, and a signing-on fee.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on March 01, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on March 01, 2023. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

All of that will seem well worth the money to Arsenal fans, with Saka providing his 20th goal contribution of the season on Wednesday to keep the Gunners top of the league.

Fabrizio Romano reports that the new deal will be until 2028.