Saliba Drops Hint on New Arsenal Deal Amid Real Madrid Interest

William Saliba Focused on Trophies as Arsenal Push to Extend Deal

William Saliba isn’t in a rush, but he knows Arsenal fans would love him to be. After yet another commanding pre-season display in the Gunners’ 3-2 win over Newcastle in Singapore, the Frenchman paused on his way out of the stadium tunnel to answer a question that’s been quietly pressing all summer, which is, when will Saliba sign a new deal?

• Ethan Nwaneri is Excited By What The Gunners Are Building.

“Hopefully soon,” came the reply to AFTV, accompanied by a hopeful gesture of crossed fingers and a glance skyward. “God is great,” he added.

It wasn’t a definitive answer, but it wasn’t a deflection either. For a player who already signed a new contract in 2023, reportedly worth £10 million per season and running until 2027, it may seem premature to talk extensions.

• 10 Interesting Facts About Cristhian Mosquera.

But Saliba’s presence at the heart of Arsenal’s defence has become so crucial, so symbolic of the team’s upward trajectory, that fans and pundits alike are already calling for the club to tie him down even longer. And with good reason.

Interest from Real Madrid has never quite gone away. Reports in Spain continue to suggest that the 24-year-old is high on Los Blancos’ wishlist, with some outlets touting him as their ideal long-term centre-back. That kind of attention could turn many heads, but Saliba, at least in his words and actions, looks like a man anchored in North London.

• Gyökeres to Arsenal is Done: The Big Move, the Bigger Questions

His ambition, too, couldn’t be clearer. When asked what he’s most looking forward to in the upcoming 2025–26 campaign, Saliba responded with the hunger of a champion-in-waiting: “Winning everything. FA Cup, Champions League, Premier League and Carabao Cup, hopefully.”

It's not the first time he's spoken with that kind of conviction. Back in March, he made his intentions known in no uncertain terms: “I want to win big things with Arsenal. If you leave this club without winning anything, the fans will forget about you.”

Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint-Étienne in 2019 for £27 million, a price tag that at the time raised eyebrows.

Saliba has signed a new contract is the headline Arsenal fans are hoping for.

He’s since silenced every doubter, forming a near-unbreakable partnership with Gabriel and earning back-to-back PFA Team of the Year selections. In 134 appearances, he’s helped the Gunners keep 58 clean sheets, numbers that speak to both consistency and class.

This summer, Arsenal have already been proactive with contract renewals for Gabriel, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ethan Nwaneri. Add to that an ambitious transfer window, welcoming the likes of Viktor Gyökeres, Martin Zubimendi, Cristian Mosquera, and Christian Nørgaard, and it’s clear the club is setting the stage for a genuine multi-front title push.

• Arsenal Injury Update On Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurriën Timber.

As for Saliba, his comment may have been brief, but it carried weight. Arsenal’s fans want certainty. What they got was a wink of reassurance and a sign that the bond between club and player is as strong as ever.