In a significant boost for Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta, the club has reportedly agreed on a four-year contract extension with William Saliba. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the 22-year-old defender will sign the new deal, ensuring his stay at the Emirates Stadium until at least 2027.
Saliba made a strong impression in his debut season in English football, receiving rave reviews for his performances in the Premier League during the 2022-23 campaign. His impressive displays caught the attention of several clubs, both domestically and internationally.
With only one year remaining on his existing contract, Arsenal faced the risk of losing the highly talented young player on a free transfer next summer or having to sell him to recoup some funds. However, negotiations with Saliba's representatives have been ongoing since before the World Cup, and an agreement has now been reached.
The exact details of Saliba's new contract are yet to be disclosed, but his current deal is believed to earn him around £40,000 per week. Given his improved status within Arteta's squad, it is expected that his new terms will include a significant pay increase.
Since joining Arsenal as a teenager in the summer of 2019 for a fee of £27 million, Saliba had not signed improved terms until now. Arteta expressed confidence in the young defender's commitment to the club, but emphasized the importance of waiting for the right time to finalize the contract extension.
Saliba played a crucial role in Arsenal's title challenge this season, contributing to the team's impressive defensive record with 11 Premier League clean sheets. His absence due to a back injury coincided with the team's decline in the latter stages of the campaign.
The Gunners have been proactive in securing the futures of key players, recently announcing new deals for Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes, and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. By securing Saliba's long-term commitment, Arsenal will gain greater defensive solidity and potentially reduce the need to pursue another center-back in the current transfer window.
While there were rumors linking Saliba to Paris Saint-Germain, it appears that Arsenal has successfully fended off any potential suitors. Previous reports had suggested that the player's wage demands, rumored to be around £120,000 per week, had deterred the North London club.
If the reported agreement is indeed finalized, it will provide Arteta with additional options in defense, potentially allowing him to move Ben White back to his natural position as a center-back. Arsenal is also said to be pursuing a deal for Portugal and Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo, which would further strengthen their defensive options and provide healthy competition in the right-back position alongside injured Takehiro Tomiyasu
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