Mikel Arteta has reached a verbal agreement with Arsenal’s hierarchy to sign a new long-term contract, ensuring the Spanish manager continues leading the project he initiated at the Emirates Stadium nearly seven years ago.
Journalist Sami Mokbel reports that the final agreement includes a substantial pay rise alongside maintaining Arteta’s influential role in coordinating transfers and squad building in collaboration with sporting director Andrea Berta. Formal procedures and official paperwork are set to be finalized in the coming period.
Arteta’s existing deal was set to expire in June 2027. While the precise duration of the new extension has not yet been disclosed, it guarantees that Arteta will reach at least a decade at the helm, having originally replaced Unai Emery in December 2019.
Arteta’s history with Arsenal dates back to his playing career, having joined the Gunners from Everton in 2011. He wore the captain’s armband and lifted two FA Cups before retiring in 2016 to begin his coaching career as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
As head coach, the Spaniard claimed his first silverware by winning the FA Cup in 2020, followed by FA Community Shield triumphs in 2020, 2023, and 2026. He subsequently guided Arsenal to the 2025–2026 Premier League title, ending a 22-year wait for the league crown dating back to the “Invincibles” era.
Arsenal accumulated 85 points during their title-winning campaign, securing 26 victories, seven draws, and five defeats while scoring 71 goals and conceding 27, finishing seven points clear of second-placed Manchester City.
Additionally, Arteta led Arsenal to their first UEFA Champions League final in 20 years, recording 11 wins and three draws en route to the showpiece match. He reached his 300th match in charge of Arsenal in October 2025 with 177 victories, before capturing his 200th career managerial win in January 2026.
Under his current terms, Arteta earns approximately £10 million per year, supplemented by potential performance bonuses reaching up to £5 million, though exact figures for the impending pay increase remain undisclosed.
