Saliba Signs New Long-Term Arsenal Contract | OneFootball

Arsenal have officially confirmed that William Saliba has agreed a new long-term deal with the club.

The 24-year-old French defender has become a key figure under Mikel Arteta, building a strong partnership with Gabriel Magalhães at the back.

Saliba first joined Arsenal from Saint-Étienne in a deal worth around £27 million before returning on loan to his boyhood club in France.

He later spent temporary spells at Nice and then Marseille, where his commanding displays earned him the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award.

His outstanding campaign with Marseille also saw him included in the 2021/22 Ligue 1 Team of the Season, confirming his rising reputation.

Since returning to Arsenal, Saliba has developed into one of the finest defenders in the Premier League and beyond.

He has been selected in the PFA Team of the Year for three consecutive seasons, underlining his consistency and quality.

In 2024, his performances were further recognised as he earned a place in The Best FIFA Men’s 11, an award given to the world’s best players.

France International Making His Mark

Saliba received his first call-up to the French national side in March 2022 and has since won 28 caps for Les Bleus.

He featured at the 2022 World Cup and was a key player during UEFA Euro 2024, playing every minute of France’s run to the semi-finals.

His reliability and impact at the tournament earned him a spot in the UEFA Team of the Tournament, further showing his importance on the international stage.

Arteta has wonderful things to say about Saliba!

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Saliba, highlighting his professionalism and influence on the team.

Arteta said: “William is loved by all the players and staff, and that speaks volumes about his character, commitment and attitude every day.”

He added: “Since joining us, William has grown so much, embraced responsibility, and has created a strong connection with our supporters and everyone at the club.”

The manager stressed that there is still more to come from the Frenchman.

Arteta continued: “We know there is still so much to come from him and will continue to work together to keep improving with the clear ambition of winning major trophies.”

Following three consecutive second-place league finishes, Arsenal now hope that with Saliba at the heart of defence, they can finally cross the line.

The Frenchman will be central to their ambition of turning progress into silverware in the coming seasons.