Mesut Ozil has agreed a new contract that will commit him to Arsenal until 2021 and also make him the highest paid player in the club’s history.
After more than a year of negotiations, an offer of £350,000-a-week has been accepted by Ozil that will see him become the focal point around a new array of attacking options that also now include Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
While Alexis Sanchez was allowed to join Manchester United after refusing the offer of a new contract, there was always hope that Ozil would sign a new deal and Arsenal have concluded a hectic transfer window by ending uncertainty about their main creative talent.
The time span of Ozil’s deal mirrors that of Aubameyang - who will be paid around £180,000-a-week and represents a further major statement of change and intent following Arsenal’s decision to sell their three main goalscorers of recent years in Theo Walcott, Sanchez and Olivier Giroud.
News of the Ozil deal emerged in the German newspaper Bild this morning and, while Arsenal say that is not yet formally signed, the expectation is that it will be announced and confirmed within the next few days.
Ozil had been expected to wait until the summer before deciding his next move but, even amid interest from Manchester United, he was keen to stay in London.
The signing of Aubameyang is understood to have been a factor in Ozil's decision but Arsenal also currently offer him more than any rival. With his existing contract expiring in June, Ozil has been free to speak with clubs outside the Premier League this month.
Arsenal are also trying to tie down Jack Wilshere to a new contract following his improvement in form this season.
