William Saliba will commit his future to Arsenal by signing a new long-term contract despite interest from Real Madrid. The centre-back established himself as one of Europe’s top defenders and was on the Spanish giants’ radar, but he now makes a new deal with the Emirates.
Contract negotiations began in May, with gunners trying to secure a defensive lynchpin that helped them rise under Mikel Arteta. Saliba, who first joined Arsenal in 2019, enjoyed three loan spells in France before being combined into Arsenal’s first team three years ago.
Saliba quelled the questions surrounding his future earlier this year, stating he is happy with Arsenal amid growing interest from record-breaking European champions. He said he is keen to win silverware at Emirates Stadium and is not yet planning to move on.
Real Madrid has a track record of snapping players as their contracts approaches the end – Antonio Rudiger, Killian Mbappe and Trent Alexander Arnold were key examples, keeping an eye on Saliba’s situation. However, the French have always expressed his satisfaction in London and are ready to demonstrate his commitment.
Last season, Saliba finished second in the Premier League in his third year and advanced to the Champions League semi-finals, making 51 appearances for Arsenal. The centre-back was frank and honest when he quized his desire to put the pen on paper in March.
Once the extension is officially completed, Saliba will be the latest in a long line of major Arsenal players to commit to the club with a long-term future. Centre-back partner Gabriel signed fresh terms in the summer, while Ethan Nuwaneri, Miles Lewis Skelly and Leandro Torosard have all signed new deals in recent months.
Given the French have developed a solid relationship with Arteta, it is no surprise that Saliba is keen to stick to North London. Praising the Spanish coach’s job, Saliba told L’Equipe last year: “He taught me to be good at beinghave.
“Sometimes he thought I was a little soft in my training, so he asked me to be mean. In fact, he wants to scare players when he sees me. He took me to another level. He’s one of the best coaches in the world. He looks at all the details and gets defeated.
