David Ornstein: Saliba commits future to Arsenal by agreeing 5-year contract

David Ornstein reports that Arsenal centre-back William Saliba has agreed a new contract with the club. The 24-year-old's new deal is expected to be signed in the coming days.

The Athletic reported in May that Arsenal had opened contract talks with Saliba in the hope of retaining him beyond June 2027, when his existing terms expire.

Saliba had been the subject of interest from Real Madrid, but said in March he was happy at Arsenal and wanted to win trophies with the north London club. Arsenal's last piece of silverware was the FA Cup they won in 2020.

Asked whether he will sign a new contract in July, the Frenchman said: “Yes, hopefully — of course there is nothing now but there is a good conversation with my agent and the club. Let's see.”

Saliba has played a key role in helping Arsenal maintain the strongest defensive record in the Premier League over the previous two seasons. He played 51 times for Arsenal last term, as Mikel Arteta’s side finished second in the Premier League for the third consecutive campaign and reached the Champions League semi-final.

Saliba signed for Arsenal from Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne in 2019, before spending consecutive seasons on loan back in the French top-flight with Nice and Marseille.

The France international becomes the latest Arsenal player to commit their future in recent months. Centre-back partner Gabriel signed fresh terms in June, while forward Leandro Trossard and academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have also signed new deals.

Few players in Arsenal's squad command Arteta's trust quite like Saliba. The former Nice man has played more Premier League minutes than any other Arsenal outfielder in each of the past two seasons, his consistent excellence bringing calmness and authority to their back line.

The physical qualities that make him stand out are clear: imposing strength, dominant aerial ability, and searing recovery pace. Since the start of last season, he's ranked third for both tackles and recoveries. His defensive action map below shows how he snuffs out dangers across the pitch.

But Saliba's greatest strengths often come without the ball. He is rarely dragged out of position, and seldom beaten in one-v-ones. That Arsenal's title challenge faltered in 2022-23 immediately after his injury is seen as no coincidence and speaks to his critical importance.

Extending Saliba's contract arguably eclipses — or is at least on a par with — the way Arsenal went about boosting their squad in the summer transfer window.

The central defender, at 24, is still several years away from hitting his peak and is, without doubt, their most important player at the back — and you could even make a case for him being Arsenal's most important player full stop.

Tying Saliba down to a new contract, especially as he had entered the final two years of his existing deal and with Madrid long-term admirers, was extremely important and Andrea Berta deserves credit for getting it done with minimum fuss and without it turning into somewhat of a saga.

Saliba was already the best-paid defender at Arsenal, and this new contract will only cement his status in that regard.

Such is his importance, and as his absence has already shown in previous seasons, Arsenal need him to stay fit if they are to mount a title challenge.

Saliba is more than deserving of his new contract and Arsenal fans can look forward to watching him continue to showcase his excellence over the coming years at the Emirates Stadium, knowing he is fully committed to the club.