Arsenal Football Club has reached an agreement with 22-year-old defender William Saliba to extend his contract for a further four years, securing his services at the Emirates Stadium until at least 2027. The deal is now in the final stages of paperwork and is expected to be signed soon.
This contract renewal comes at a crucial time for Saliba, as his previous terms were set to expire in a year, potentially leaving Arsenal vulnerable to losing him for free next summer if a new agreement was not reached.
The young Frenchman had attracted significant interest from several Premier League clubs and foreign teams, highlighting his growing reputation in the football world.
Saliba played a pivotal role for Arsenal during the previous season, contributing to their strong challenge for the Premier League title.
Unfortunately, an injury sidelined him for the last 11 matches, coinciding with a dip in form for the team, causing them to slip from the top of the table to second place under manager Mikel Arteta.
🚨| @David_Ornstein: Arsenal have agreed a new four-year contract with William Saliba. The new contract will now move on to the paperwork stage with both sides looking to get it signed. [@TheAthleticFC] #afc pic.twitter.com/Ytpfz4VUpE
— Arsenal Buzz (@ArsenalBuzzCom) June 10, 2023
Following in the footsteps of his teammates Bukayo Saka, Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli, and Aaron Ramsdale, Saliba has committed his future to Arsenal by signing a new contract.
His journey at the club began in 2019 when he joined from French side Saint-Etienne. However, he spent substantial periods out on loan, returning to Saint-Etienne for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
Later, he divided the 2020-21 campaign between Arsenal and a loan spell at Nice. Afterward, Saliba enjoyed a successful loan stint at Marseille before rejoining Arsenal last summer.
Throughout the season, he made 27 appearances across all competitions, contributing to Arsenal’s qualification for the prestigious UEFA Champions League.
In addition to Saliba’s contract extension, Arsenal is also preparing to commence contract negotiations with their captain, Martin Odegaard.
The Norwegian midfielder currently has two years remaining on his existing deal, with the option to extend it for another 12 months.
However, Arsenal is eager to secure Odegaard’s long-term future at the club and reward him for his impressive performances.
Despite reports linking Odegaard with a potential move to Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal has no intentions of entertaining any offers for their talented playmaker.