Saliba Signs Long-Term with Arsenal, Snubbing Real Madrid for Trophy Dreams
3 November 2025
Renewal and Real Madrid Links
French defender William Saliba, Arsenal's cornerstone in defense, addressed persistent rumors linking him to Real Madrid as he looked to the future.
Madrid had reportedly shown interest in Saliba while aging center-backs and mounting injuries pushed the Spanish giants to refresh their backline.
Saliba then sealed a new contract with Arsenal, extending his stay until 2030, a move the club framed as a vote of confidence in his leadership and football intelligence.
In comments cited by Fabrizio Romano, Saliba acknowledged the allure of a club of Madrid's stature but stressed his desire to continue winning trophies with the Gunners.
He added, 'Of course it’s flattering to be of interest to a club like Madrid, but I want to win titles with Arsenal first'.
The report noted Madrid’s signing of Spanish defender Din Huisen from Bournemouth for 58 million euros, illustrating Madrid’s ongoing desire to strengthen the spine.
Career Highlights and Arsenal's Future
Saliba’s journey began at Saint-Etienne, where he rose through the academy and broke into the first team in 2018-19.
After signing for Arsenal in 2019, he returned to Saint-Etienne on loan for 2019-20 and helped them reach the French Cup final in 2020.
Back in London, Saliba earned a Community Shield with Arsenal in 2020 and later developed through spells in Nice and Marseille that sharpened his defensive instincts.
His breakthrough arrived in 2021-22, when he was named the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and placed in the league's Team of the Season.
Saliba made his competitive Arsenal debut in August 2022 against Crystal Palace, and two weeks later celebrated his first goal against Bournemouth as Arsenal won 3-0.
Since then he has become Arsenal’s first-choice center-back, contributing to one of the league’s stingiest defenses and earning three successive inclusions in the PFA Team of the Year.
He also earned FIFA recognition as part of the FIFA World XI list for 2024.
Internationally, Saliba debuted for France in March 2022 and has since accrued 28 caps.
He featured at the 2022 World Cup and started every minute of France’s Euro 2024 campaign, guiding Les Bleus to the semi-finals and earning a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Bertha lauded Saliba’s professionalism, calmness and physical presence, calling him one of the world’s best and predicting more great performances.
Manager Mikel Arteta echoed the sentiment, saying Saliba is loved by teammates and staff, and that he has grown since joining the club.
The club confirmed that the renewal remains subject to the usual regulatory formalities.
For fans, the extension signals a turning point in Arteta’s project, with Saliba as a pillar of the defense and a stabilizing presence for years to come.
Overall, Saliba’s leadership and football intelligence make him a hard player to replace.
Punchline 1: If defense wins championships, Saliba just bought Arsenal a time machine—it's 2030, and the trophy is already waiting.
Punchline 2: Madrid can dream, but Arsenal has the warranty on their backline until 2030—and yes, it’s still valid after the final whistle.
