Jorginho makes decision on his Arsenal future as he's offered new contract
Jorginho is expected to extend his stay with Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal star Jorginho is ready to put pen to paper on a new deal with the club.
Jorginho, 32, joined Arsenal from rivals Chelsea for a fee of around £12million in January 2023 and has gone on to make 51 appearances in all competitions for the north London giants.
The midfielder agreed to an 18-month contract on arrival at Arsenal, with the option of a further year.
There has been uncertainty surrounding Jorginho’s future given that deal is due to expire at the end of the season and a return to Serie A has been mooted as a possible option in the summer transfer window.
However, according to The Athletic, Jorginho is expected to extend his stay – rather than leave on a free transfer – after being offered a new contract, which will come as a great relief to Mikel Arteta.
Jorginho is not a guaranteed starter for the Gunners but has established himself as a trusted member of the squad and Arteta has been keen for the vastly experienced Euro 2020 winner to commit to the club for the foreseeable future.
The report claims Thomas Partey’s situation remains unclear, with the 30-year-old Ghana midfielder set to enter into the final year of his deal this summer.
Arsenal must decide whether to cash in on Partey while they have the chance or risk losing him on a free transfer in 12 months time.
Arteta has been keen for Jorginho to commit his future to the Gunners (Picture: Getty)
Speaking to TV Play earlier this month, Jorginho’s agent Joao Santos insisted his client was in ‘no hurry’ to decide his future and refused to rule out a summer switch to Italy.
‘Did Arsenal call us for a renewal? No, right now they’re focused on the Champions League return leg against Bayern Munich,’ Santos said.
‘We’re in no hurry. If they were to call us in a month or two to discuss the renewal, that’s fine with us.
‘Would Jorginho like to return to Italy? Yes, of course because he grew up in Italy and he likes everything about the country.’
Arteta views Jorginho as the ideal role model for Arsenal’s young stars (Picture: Getty)
Arteta has repeatedly sang Jorginho’s praises since his arrival from Stamford Bridge, viewing the Champions League winner as the perfect role model for Arsenal’s younger players.
‘For all the kids at the club, if you want to look at somebody, just look at him,’ the Arsenal manager said after the side’s victory over title rivals Liverpool in February.
‘He’s won everything but you ask him not to play or play one minute last week he’s happy to go there.
‘Ask him to play 90 minutes at that rhythm and he’s able to do that. I’m really lucky to have players like this.
‘It’s a game that I had in my mind. I was imagining how much we were going to need him. He’s a really intelligent player, his biggest quality is that he makes the people around him better.
‘He connects everybody. I think he was man of the match.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Arsenal news, exclusives and analysis
Sign upPrivacy PolicyThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Never miss a beat throughout the season or transfer window with weekly Arsenal news updates, exclusives and analysis. Sign up to Metro.co.uk’s Club Metro newsletter