Some deals felt like fortresses being built around a club’s future. Others felt like giant cheques tossed into the wind. When a Premier League giant ties down a star for the long haul, it creates a ripple through the league. Here is a ranked look at the extensions that made the biggest impact on results, direction and the club’s wider identity.

1. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

Extended 2022

Liverpool could not afford a reset, so they locked in the one player who kept delivering storms of goals even when the team wobbled. His consistency meant the rebuild never fully collapsed.

Why it mattered
Salah scored across every competition with a sort of stubborn calm. Keeping him gave Liverpool the attacking spine needed to stay competitive while reshaping midfield and defence.

Stats after extension

• 53 goals in all competitions from 2022 to 2024

• 24 assists

• Chance creation still among the top tier in the league

Memorable matches

• Liverpool 7, Manchester United 0, two goals and one assist

• Liverpool 3, Tottenham 2, early control of the tempo

2. Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City

Extended 2021

City extended the deal of the player who knits everything together. His passing turns matches into puzzles opponents never solve.

Why it mattered
Securing De Bruyne kept City’s tactical identity intact. He remained the player who makes Guardiola’s system feel effortless.

Stats after extension

• 28 league assists from 2021 to 2023

• Over 3 chances created per match

• Consistently among the league’s top progressive passers

Memorable matches

• City 4, Arsenal 1, a dominant night of goals and control

• City 3, Real Madrid 0, a semi final clinic in midfield rhythm

3. Bukayo Saka, Arsenal

Extended 2023

Arsenal’s project needed stability and sharpness on the right side. Saka provided both. Extending him felt like driving a flag into the ground and daring the league to come and take it.

Why it mattered
He became the face of Arsenal’s title chase and tactical plan. His progression year by year made the deal feel cheap in hindsight.

Stats after extension

• 26 league goals from 2022 to 2024

• 19 assists

• Over 8 progressive carries per match

Memorable matches

• Arsenal 3, Manchester United 2, a long range finish under pressure

• Arsenal 4, Everton 0, opening the scoring with confidence

4. Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur

Extended 2018

Tottenham kept their talisman for the heart of his peak years. Even if he eventually left, this extension gave Spurs a fighting chance to remain competitive.

Why it mattered
Kane became not only a goalscorer but also a creator, often carrying Spurs through difficult spells.

Stats after extension

• 138 league goals from 2018 to 2023

• One Golden Boot

• Among Europe’s best in combined goals and assists

Memorable matches

• Leicester 2, Tottenham 3, a late and relentless comeback

• Tottenham 3, Arsenal 0, a derby performance full of bite

5. Marcus Rashford, Manchester United

Extended 2023

United needed proof their forward line had a future. Rashford’s extension arrived just after his strongest season and gave supporters a sense of continuity.

Why it mattered
He became a central figure in Ten Hag’s rebuild. Even with dips in form, he remained United’s most explosive outlet.

Stats after extension

• 30 goals in all competitions in his standout season

• 17 league goals in 2022 to 2023

• Over 4 shot creating actions per match

Memorable matches

• United 2, City 1, a late winner in a tense derby

• United 3, Barcelona 1, driving the attack with pace

6. Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool

Extended 2021

Liverpool doubled down on the anchor of their defence. Even when the team stuttered, Van Dijk’s presence prevented complete structural collapse.

Why it mattered
His leadership steadied matches and allowed Liverpool to maintain a high line with a level of confidence few centre backs can support.

Stats after extension

• 21 clean sheets in the 2021 to 2022 season

• Over 90 percent pass accuracy

• Around four aerial wins per match

Memorable matches

• League Cup final win over Chelsea, scoring the decisive goal

• Liverpool 2, Newcastle 0, a defensive performance of calm precision

7. Raheem Sterling, Manchester City

Extended 2019

This extension came after Sterling’s most lethal season. He remained a key part of City’s scoring engine before eventually moving on.

Why it mattered
City sustained their front line without needing immediate reinforcements, giving them flexibility in other areas.

Stats after extension

• 20 league goals between 2019 and 2021

• 25 percent conversion rate in 2019 to 2020

• Over 2 dribbles completed per match

Memorable matches

• Atalanta 1, City 5, a Champions League hat trick

• City 4, Liverpool 0, scoring against his former club

A quick comparison table

Figures are rounded estimates based on publicly reported ranges.

What these extensions tell us

The Premier League is full of expensive transfers, but the biggest long term commitments come through extensions. These deals show how clubs try to build eras rather than seasons. Some became centrepieces of sustained success. Others offered temporary stability while teams reshaped everything else around them.

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