William Saliba has pledged to give even more to Arsenal after signing a new contract with the club, despite strong interest from Real Madrid.
Gatekeepers News reports that the French defender, who first joined the Gunners in 2019, said extending his stay was always his priority, describing Arsenal as “home” and hailing the bond he shares with fans.
“I feel proud of myself because I first signed in 2019, and now in 2025, I’m still here to extend my contract,” Saliba said. “I’m so happy. I feel at home. We have a good team, a good squad, and good staff. The coach is perfect for me, so it’s the best place to be.
“I enjoy every day when I have the chance to wear this shirt. I try to give everything, and now I’ll give even more to this club and to the fans. I have a special connection with them, because even when I was on loan, when I was not playing here, they would send me messages to say: ‘one day, you will play for this club, you don’t have to give up.’ I will never forget this.”
Saliba, who hopes to “become the best, or one of the best defenders in the world,” also reserved praise for manager Mikel Arteta, whom he credited as instrumental to his development.
Arteta, in turn, hailed the 24-year-old’s growth and importance to the team.
“William is loved by all the players and staff, and that speaks volumes about his character, commitment and attitude every day,” the Arsenal boss said. “Since joining us, William has grown so much, embraced responsibility, and has created a strong connection with our supporters and everyone at the club. We know there is still so much to come from him and will continue to work together to keep improving with the clear ambition of winning major trophies.”
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta also praised Saliba’s impact, calling him “one of the best defenders in the world.”
“In the last three seasons, William has become an incredible defender whose composure, intelligence and physical presence make him one of the best in the world,” Berta said. “His consistency, maturity, and ability to influence matches will continue to be a big asset for us, and we’re looking forward to many more great performances from him at the heart of our defence.”
