Arsenal recently announced the news that Mikel Arteta had signed a new long-term contract with the club, ending speculation on the 40-year-old’s future and giving supporters around the world a collective sigh of relief.
The Basque coach has proven his worth this season with Arsenal favourites to finish fourth and return to the UEFA Champions League after six years of absence, and for the north London club, the future is looking very bright under Arteta.
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With the news now confirmed, HITC Sport takes a look back at seven other Premier League contract decisions that proved to be landmark moments for certain clubs and how they proved to be successful in the long term.
Harry Kane commits six more years to Tottenham
Harry Kane broke onto the scene in 2015 for Tottenham and quickly established himself as a potential world-class striker in the making, and three years later after developing into a superstar, the forward penned a six-year contract with Spurs.
Whilst this contract has been viewed by many as the main reason Kane has failed to move on from Tottenham, there’s no denying that the north London side have benefited hugely from the decision, with the England captain one of the best strikers in world football and playing a big role in Spurs’ consistent finishes in the top-six.
Newcastle United recruit Rafa Benitez
Going from Real Madrid to Newcastle United is usually the sign that a manager’s career is falling away, yet for Magpies and Rafa Benitez, it proved to be one of the smartest decisions the northeast side have made in recent years.
Handed a three-year deal, the Spaniard got Newcastle back up to the Premier League after being relegated down to the Championship at the first time of asking, though disagreements with Mike Ashley meant that Benitez was not handed a new contract in the summer of 2019.
Leeds sign Kalvin Phillips to five-year contract
We’re going to cheat a little bit in this entry as it happened when Leeds United were in the Championship. However, there’s no denying that the Whites’ decision to sign Kalvin Phillips to a five-year deal in 2019 has proven to be a stroke of genius from the club.
Since the move, Phillips has asserted himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League and a focal point of the England national team, with the Leeds star playing a huge role in getting the Three Lions to the Euro 2020 final last summer.
West Ham bring David Moyes back
When West Ham decided to bring David Moyes back as manager after the sacking of Manuel Pellegrini, many saw the move as one that was doomed to fail, especially given how lacklustre the Scottish coach was in his first spell in east London.
However, fast-forward to now, and the move has proven to be a genius decision from West Ham, with the club qualifying for Europe last season and making it to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals in the process, with Moyes looking to claim another top-seven finish this campaign.
Jurgen Klopp extends with Liverpool
Liverpool have recently announced that Jurgen Klopp has extended his deal with the Anfield side until 2026, yet we will be looking at the German’s previous decision to sign a new contract with the Reds back in 2019.
Off the back of a Champions League title win, Klopp delivered fans the perfect Christmas present by extending his contract with Liverpool the following December, with the former Bundesliga boss delivering the Premier League title just a few months later.
Arsenal tie Bukayo Saka down to a five-year deal
Arsenal and high-profile contract moves tend to end in disaster, just ask Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, yet the form of Bukayo Saka since signing a long-term contract in 2020 has proved to be one of the best things the Gunners have done in the post-Arsene Wenger era.
The 20-year-old attacker has established himself as one of Arsenal’s best players and a key member of Arteta’s future plans for the north London side, and with reports suggesting that Saka might sign a new contract this summer, the Gunners are in good hands with the England international.
Manchester City’s contract madness
Manchester City are one of the most well-run clubs in world football, and the method to their success can be seen in how effective the Premier League side are at tying down key players to new contracts.
This season alone has seen Joao Cancelo, Ederson Moraes, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias sign new contracts at City, with the likes of Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez expected to follow suit in the coming months, as well as Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling if reports are to be believed.
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