Football/ Mercato: Saliba extends Arsenal contract, Real Madrid seeks alternative options
William Saliba has officially extended his contract with Arsenal until 2030, ending speculation about a potential move to Real Madrid. The French international, who joined London in 2019 after impressing at Saint-Étienne, has established himself as one of the world’s best center-backs since 2022.
“It’s wonderful to see so many players willing to stay,” declared manager Mikel Arteta in a press conference.
The Spanish coach praised the maturity and consistency of the Bondy-born defender, who forms a solid partnership with Gabriel Magalhães at the heart of Arsenal’s defense.
This extension deals a significant blow to Real Madrid, who are actively seeking defensive reinforcements.
Los Blancos are now turning their attention to Ibrahima Konaté, who will be a free agent at the end of the season with Liverpool. However, the French defender’s profile doesn’t have unanimous support within the Madrid hierarchy.
Some club officials prefer exploring alternative options, including Castello Lukeba from RB Leipzig or Joan Martínez, a promising academy graduate.
The urgency is real for manager Xabi Alonso, who must prepare for the scheduled departures of David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger when their contracts expire.
The decision of Saliba confirms Arsenal’s ambition to retain their best players as they aim to compete consistently with Europe’s elite clubs.
The 28-cap international’s commitment provides stability to the Gunners’ backline and represents a major statement of intent from the North London club.
