Bukayo Saka, Arsenal Reportedly Agree to Terms on New Long-Term Contract

One of the brightest young talents in world football is sticking with Arsenal.

The Athletic's David Ornstein reported Thursday that Bukayo Saka "is set to commit his future to Arsenal by reaching an agreement in principle over a new long-term contract. The deal has not yet been signed and may take some time to finalize, but it is now in place and will come as a huge boost to the club."

Saka, 21, has emerged as both a key figure for the Premier League-leading Gunners and for the English national team. He's notched 10 goals and eight assists in 31 appearances in all competitions this season, adding nine goals in league play.

That leads Arsenal, with Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard (eight apiece) a close second. His eight assists are also tops in league play, with Ødegaard again nipping at his heels with seven.

With the 21-year-old Martinelli also agreeing to a long-term extension recently, Arsenal have locked down two of the top young wingers in world for the foreseeable future.

Arsenal has slowly and steadily built an impressive young core, with Saka, Martinelli, William Saliba (21), Eddie Nketiah (23), Ødegaard (24), Aaron Ramsdale (24), Ben White (25), Gabriel (25) and Gabriel Jesus (25) all playing key roles.

Emile Smith Rowe (22) is also an important young player, though injuries have largely kept him off the pitch.

As for the terms of Saka's pending long-term extension, Ornstein reported that "Arsenal activated an option to extend Saka's career at the Emirates Stadium until 2024, but the fresh terms will supersede that and see them retain an academy graduate who would have been highly sought after had he been on the market."

As Arsenal push for a title, Saka will remain instrumental in whether they achieve it. But as Mikel Arteta reshapes Arsenal after years of struggles in the post-Arsene Wenger era, Saka is the face of that project.

And once his extension is official, will stay that way for a while.