Bukayo Saka brought to tears by heartfelt letter from his parents after signing his new Arsenal contract – as talisman admits: ‘They don’t speak with me a lot like this’
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka was left speechless and burst into tears after receiving a touching letter from his parents Adenike and Yomi on the occasion of signing his new £300,000-a-week contract at the club.
The winger spent another five years at the Emirates, becoming the club’s highest-paid player and establishing him as a cornerstone of Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Money aside, Saka will be keen to reaffirm his deep ties with the team for which he made his debut as a Hale End academy graduate.
But soon after the deal was signed, Saka had to deal with another set of emotions when he came across a letter revealing that his parents’ hearts were ‘overflowing with pride’ at his latest success.
‘From the first days of playing ball at home and in the park, we could see the joy it brought you,’ the letter read. ‘What we couldn’t have known then was how far your joy combined with your dedication and faith could take you.
‘You never forgot your values, your faith and the people who supported you along the way. This means more to us than any goal, cup or contract could ever mean.
Bukayo Saka couldn’t speak as he read a letter from his parents out loud after signing a new contract with Arsenal
‘Remember, success is measured not just by achievements but by character. Bukayo keep smiling, enjoy this journey. Keep believing and continue to be an example to the many young people who look up to you.’
After finishing reading the letter presented to him on CNN, Saka had difficulty speaking as he was on the verge of tears.
“Wow,” he managed. ‘I don’t see my parents talking to me that much.
‘I’m pretty reticent. This is great. I don’t know what to say to them other than thank you. I wouldn’t be here without them.
‘Their journey is inspiring to me. From being in Nigeria to where we are today as a family… God is the only explanation.
‘This is not normal. There’s a one in a million chance. ‘I’m so grateful and it’s beautiful’.
The missing piece in Saka’s career so far, who has received individual praise for his performances in both Arsenal and England, was silverware.
Arteta’s Arsenal are chasing their first Premier League title since his appointment in the promising post in 2019 and currently sit four points ahead of Manchester City.
They also remain competitive in all four club competitions this season; Next month’s Carabao Cup final against Man City will be the first opportunity to win a trophy.
