Arsenal defender William Saliba, aged 24, has reportedly agreed to a new long-term contract, securing his future with the North London club until 2030. This development comes as a significant boost for manager Mikel Arteta, especially given the considerable transfer interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid, who were closely monitoring Saliba's situation.

Sources indicate that the new deal is a five-year extension, replacing his previous contract which was set to expire in 2027. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano first reported the 2030 term, while ESPN and BBC Sport sources also confirmed a five-year agreement. It is understood that Saliba's new wages will be comparable to Bukayo Saka, making him one of the club's top earners, reportedly around £300,000-a-week. While terms have been agreed, an official announcement is not imminent, with the signing expected in the coming days.

Photo Credit: The Guardian

Real Madrid's interest was substantial, as they sought a new centre-back amidst the uncertain futures of their defenders David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger. The LaLiga club reportedly rated Saliba ahead of Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté, making his commitment to Arsenal a blow to their transfer plans.

Saliba joined Arsenal at 18 years old in July 2019 from Saint-Étienne,but spent several seasons on loan with French clubs, including Saint-Étienne, Nice, and Marseille, before breaking into Arsenal's first team in August 2022. Since establishing himself, he has made 137-139 appearances for the club and has been a crucial element in Mikel Arteta's long-term rebuild.

The France international has played a pivotal role in Arsenal's resurgence, helping them compete for the Premier League title in recent seasons and becoming a regular feature in the Champions League. This season, Saliba has featured in all but two games across all competitions. He missed the Nottingham Forest league match due to an ankle injury sustained against Liverpool and was benched for the Champions League victory over Athletic Bilbao.His skill was notably displayed in the Carabao Cup win over Port Vale, where he provided an exquisite assist for Leandro Trossard's goal.

Photo Credit: BBC News

Saliba had previously expressed his happiness in North London, stating in July, “Yes, hopefully — of course there is nothing now but there is a good conversation with my agent and the club. Let’s see.” This agreement fulfills those hopes, further strengthening Arteta's squad after centre-back partner Gabriel Magalhaes also signed a long-term deal until 2029 in June. Arsenal, currently second in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle in an away fixture on Sunday, aiming to keep pace with league leaders Liverpool.