Arsenal defender William Saliba pens new deal until 2030 | OneFootball

Arsenal defender William Saliba is officially signing a new contract at the Emirates Stadium, according to reliable journalist Fabrice Hawkins.

The news is a massive boost for the Gunners as they were wary of losing Saliba to Real Madrid.

The La Liga giants had been sounding out interest in the Arsenal centre-back’s services, but his commitment puts an end to any uncertainty.

The North Londoners can now move forward knowing they have tied down one of their most important players to a long-term deal until 2030.

Los Blancos have long admired Saliba, earmarking him as a top priority target and closely monitoring his situation.

With his previous deal running until 2027, Real Madrid believed 2026 could be their window of opportunity.

They believed Arsenal might have been forced to sell rather than risk losing him for free.

However, the 23-year-old has resisted Madrid’s advances, instead choosing to cement his future in North London.

Saliba reportedly put pen to paper on Monday evening.

The deal will make Saliba one of Arsenal’s top earners, a reflection of his standing as one of the best defenders in world football.

For Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, the news represents another cornerstone secured in a squad built to compete at the very highest level.

The Spanish tactician believes he is ‘instrumental’ to both the club’s present ambitions and long-term vision.

Saliba’s Arsenal story began in 2019, when he arrived from Saint-Etienne for around £27 million.

After a series of loan spells in France with Nice and Marseille, he returned to the Emirates for the 2022/23 season and quickly became indispensable.

His commanding presence, composure in possession, and ability to read the game transformed Arsenal’s backline into one of the Premier League’s strongest.

Alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, Saliba has forged a partnership widely regarded as the league’s finest.

That pairing will prove crucial as the Gunners bid to wrestle the Premier League crown off Liverpool and end their 21-year wait for a league title.