Arsenal defender William Saliba has committed his long-term future to the club, despite recent links to Real Madrid. The 23-year-old Frenchman has been one of the standout centre-backs in world football over the past few seasons, attracting attention from several top clubs, including the reigning European champions.
In recent months, Real Madrid’s defensive woes, largely due to injuries, have led to speculation that they could make a move for Saliba. In October, Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger even expressed his desire to play alongside Saliba at the Bernabeu. However, Saliba appears set to stay put at Arsenal, where he is thriving.
When asked about his future, Saliba responded decisively, saying, “I signed for the club five years ago but it’s only my third season. I’m enjoying everything — the players, the staff, and the fans. I feel at home, so of course [I could stay for a long time], why not?”
Saliba’s rise at Arsenal has been remarkable. After joining the Gunners in the summer of 2019 for £27 million, the Frenchman initially struggled to break into the first team. He spent time on loan at Saint-Étienne, and his first season at Arsenal was hindered by a lack of playing time. Saliba’s breakthrough came with loan spells at Nice and Marseille, where he developed into one of the top defenders in Ligue 1, earning the 2021/22 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award.
Reintegrated into Mikel Arteta‘s Arsenal squad for the 2022/23 season, Saliba quickly became a key figure at the heart of the defence, playing a crucial role in the club’s title challenge. His absence through injury later in the season, however, was a significant blow to Arsenal’s aspirations.
Now firmly established as one of Arsenal’s most important players, Saliba’s comments reflect his intent to remain in North London for the foreseeable future, despite the growing interest from top European clubs like Real Madrid. With two years left on his contract, it seems the French international is focused on continuing his development at Arsenal and contributing to the club’s ongoing success.
