Arsenal defender silences transfer speculation with contract agreement

Arsenal defender William Saliba has agreed a new long-term contract with the club, according to multiple reports.

The Frenchman has accepted the fresh terms after his current deal was set to expire in 2027. He had been linked with a move away throughout the summer with European giants interested in securing his services, but those rumours have now been put to bed.

The Gunners no longer have to be concerned about Saliba's future with his time in north London now set to continue for at least another five years.

William Saliba agrees new Arsenal contract

Saliba had attracted interest from Real Madrid during the summer transfer window and despite remaining at Arsenal beyond the closure, the 15-time Champions League winners were still exploring a potential future move.

Despite the speculation, the defender confirmed in March that he was happy in the English capital and wanted to win trophies with the Gunners. Arsenal then opened contract talks with Saliba in May with a new deal for the Frenchman one of sporting director Andrea Berta's top priorities.

Confidence grew once again in July when he gave a positive response when asked whether he would sign a new deal. He said: "Yes, hopefully — of course there is nothing now but there is a good conversation with my agent and the club. Let’s see."

He has been a crucial player for the Gunners since breaking into the first team ahead of the 2022/23 season. After spending a number of seasons away on loan, he has made 139 appearances for the club and has formed a formidable defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes. His brilliance in the backline has allowed his side to become a consistent title challenger and one of the best defensive sides in Europe.

His new deal reflects his important status in the team and also sees him join a number of players in committing their future to the club during recent months. Fellow defender Gabriel penned a new deal in June while academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly also signed new contracts. Leandro Trossard was another to receive fresh terms, but he didn't sign an extension.

Arsenal fans will be pleased to hear this news as it now all but confirms Saliba will spend the foreseeable future at the club. It sees another crucial player commit themselves to Mikel Arteta's project, but there is still work to do on the contract front with Bukayo Saka yet to follow in the footsteps of his teammates.