Real Madrid Transfers: Final Goodbye to William Saliba

Apuesta a este partido aquí

UEFA Champions League

1 X 2

Kairat Almaty Real Madrid

30/09/25 18:45:00

21.00 9.50 1.10

 PUBLICIDAD

In the recent short history of Arsenal, few contractual moves have generated as much excitement as that of William Saliba, whose future hung in the balance between London and Madrid as he has been on Real Madrid's agenda for years.

Saliba: from questions to contractual certainties

Last July, when asked about a hypothetical extension, Saliba stated: "Renew? Yes, I hope so. Of course, nothing is certain now, but there is a good conversation with my agent and the club. We will see." Today, that verbal caution evolves into conviction: According to reports from 'The Athletic', negotiations initiated in May have materialized into a new contract with the gunners, extending his link until 2030.

This leap represents a strategic triumph: Arsenal secures one of the best center-backs in the world and dashes Real Madrid's aspirations to strengthen its defense. With this renewal, Saliba reaffirms his commitment to London and puts on hold the Merengues' plans that had him in their sights.

Real Madrid loses a key option in the transfer market

Over the past months, William Saliba's name appeared frequently among the options Real Madrid was considering to bolster its defense. With a contract expiring in 2027, the Frenchman was a coveted piece, especially for his youth, hierarchy, and consistent performance.

However, with this extension, the white club sees one of its strongest cards fall. The Merengues will have to explore alternatives like Upamecano or Konaté, more viable from an economic and contractual point of view. Nonetheless, some sources suggest that Madrid does not rule out reactivating the option in three years when the contract expires.

A salary increase and a strengthened defensive cornerstone

The significance of Arsenal's "renewal plan" goes beyond Saliba. In recent months, the London club has renewed Myles Lewis-Skelly until 2030, Ethan Nwaneri until 2030, Gabriel Magalhães (2029), and Leandro Trossard (2027). The next on the list could be Bukayo Saka.

Economically, the extension will also mean a leap for Saliba. He currently stands at the sixth salary level at the London-based team, with around £190,000 weekly, far from the club's cap held by Kai Havertz with nearly £280,000. With the new contract, it is expected that his remuneration will substantially increase.

Saliba already leads Arsenal's defense with European projection

William Saliba was not in the squad by chance. Since Mikel Arteta granted him defensive responsibilities, the French center-back has strung together three successful seasons—except for the final stretch of 2022-2023 when he suffered an injury—leading one of the Premier League's best defenses.

In the last two campaigns, he played 50 and 51 matches, respectively, becoming a reference even for the French national team. This level has boosted his market value, estimated at around €80 million, making any deal with elite clubs much more challenging.

In the coming days, the signature that will seal Arsenal's dream of retaining a defensive leader will be made official, leaving Real Madrid with a discarded option in the short term. William Saliba reaffirms his Gunner warrior identity and aims to continue growing in London with continental ambitions.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fichajes Real Madrid: Adiós definitivo a William Saliba