LONDON: Arsenal secured homegrown star Bukayo Saka to an extended contract Tuesday as together they target a first Premier League title in 20 years after being outlasted by Manchester City this season.
The 21-year-old England winger signed through 2027 with the club he joined as a boy and made a first-team debut with four seasons ago.
“I think this is the right club, the right place to make the next step,” Saka said in a statement on Arsenal’s website. “It’s a beautiful club — look where we are.”
Arsenal led the Premier League for most of an exhilarating season before a young team faded in the final stretch, worn down by defending champion Man City’s deep and expensively assembled squad.
Saka has scored 14 goals this season, two more than the previous campaign, and appeared in each of Arsenal’s Premier League games.
“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,” Saka said, “because I really believe that we can achieve big things.”
Saka can expect to make his Champions League debut when Arsenal return to the elite competition in September for the first time in seven seasons.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta praised Saka as “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.”
Arsenal sign star winger Bukayo Saka to extended contract through 2027
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Arsenal sign star winger Bukayo Saka to extended contract through 2027
- The 21-year-old England winger signed through 2027 with the club he joined as a boy and made a first-team debut with four seasons ago
- “I think this is the right club, the right place to make the next step,” Saka said
Al-Hilal win to cut Al-Nassr’s lead at the top to two points
- Reigning champions Al- Ittihad beat Neom 3-1 to end the year on a high after difficult title defence
- Leaders dropped their first points of the season on Tuesday after a 2-2 draw against Ettifaq
RIYADH: Al-Hilal have closed the gap on leaders Al-Nassr lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League table to two points after beating Al-Khollod 3-1 on New Year’s Eve.
The win saw Al-Hilal leapfrog Al-Taawoun into second place they now have 29 points from 11 matches, just two behind Al-Nassr, who on Tuesday dropped their first points of the season after a 2-2 draw with Ettifaq.
Al-Hilal took the lead through Sergei Milinkovic-Savic after 45 minutes there was still enough stoppage time for Ramiro Enrique to equalize form the penalty spot. Two second half goals from Theo Hernandez secured a vital three points for Al-Hila.
Earlier in the day reigning SPL champions Al-Itttihad beat hosts Neom 3-1 to go fifth in the table and end the year on n relative high after a difficult defence of their title so far in this campaign.
Roger Fernandes opened the scoring on 14 minutes from Steven Bergwijn’s assist, but Said Benrahma equalized 13 minutes later for teams to go into the break on equal terms.
Second half goals by Bergwijn and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi secured a morale-boosting win for Al-Ittihad.
In Wednesday’s other match, Al-Qadsiah beat hosts Al-Shabab 3-2 to stay fifth in the table.
