Arsenal confirmed the renewal of Bukayo Saka, their most influential player, with a long-term contract that would reportedly extend until 2031. Since his debut in 2018, at the age of 17, Saka has made almost 300 appearances for the first team and has led the team in the absence of Martin Ødegaard.
“I feel incredible. It’s a fantastic moment for my family and me,” Saka expressed to the club’s media. “It was an easy decision to continue here and my goal is to win everything. The path we have taken with the team has been special and I believe that the next few years will be the ones that allow us to achieve it.”
🚨❤️🤍 OFFICIAL: Bukayo Saka signs new long term deal at Arsenal valid for the next five years. 🔐 pic.twitter.com/B3AyQUyXYe
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 19, 2026
Arsenal has gone six years without lifting a trophy, since 2020, and its last Premier League championship dates back to the 2003–04 season. Despite several failed attempts in recent years, Saka keeps his ambition intact.
“When I look back on my career, I want to see a boy who started when he was seven or eight trying out at Arsenal and who ended up winning all the trophies possible,” commented the player. “That is the legacy I want to leave and that would make me happy.”
Heading towards the club’s historical records
Beyond the titles, Saka could enter the club’s history books. The record for most appearances, currently held by David O’Leary with 722 games, is within reach if he maintains his average of 44 games per season. With 297 matches played so far, Saka could challenge this mark by the age of 34.
In terms of goals, breaking Thierry Henry’s record (228) will be a monumental task, but Saka has already accumulated 78 and could be within the top 10 or even close to Ian Wright’s second place (185). His recent adaptation to the central midfield position could help increase his goal average and prolong his career at the highest level.
The change to a more central position not only benefits Arsenal, but also Saka: it reduces the physical wear and tear of an electric winger and allows him to sustain his performance over time. With consistency and health, he could get closer to the club’s historical marks while continuing to pursue the main objective: the trophies that would consolidate his legacy.
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