William Saliba

Saliba began playing football at the age of six, coached by the father of Kylian Mbappé.{{cite web |url=https://www.arsenal.com/william-saliba-premier-league-interview |title=Long read: Saliba on his lifelong love of Arsenal |last=James |first=Josh |date=8 October 2022 |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |access-date=9 October 2022 }} He eventually moved south to Saint-Étienne in 2016,{{cite news |last1=Faure |first1=Anthony |last2=Detout |first2=Arnaud |title=Ligue 1 : William Saliba, un Bondynois sur les traces de Mbappé |url=http://www.leparisien.fr/sports/ligue-1-william-saliba-un-bondynois-sur-les-traces-de-mbappe-27-09-2018-7904148.php |access-date=13 January 2019 |newspaper=Le Parisien |date=27 September 2018 |language=fr}} and signed his first contract at age 17, in May 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.asse.fr/fr/actualites/william-saliba-passe-professionnel-ac22969|title=William Saliba passe professionnel|last=@ASSEofficiel}} Saliba then made his professional debut on 25 September 2018, featuring in a 3–2 Ligue 1 win over Toulouse.{{cite web|url=https://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/84679|title=Toulouse FC - AS Saint-Etienne (2–3) - Saison 2018/2019 - Ligue 1 Conforama|website=www.lfp.fr}} He made 13 starting appearances in his first season at Saint-Étienne.

After signing for Arsenal, Saliba returned to Saint-Étienne on loan for the 2019–20 season. He played 17 games for the club across the campaign, helping Saint-Étienne reach the 2020 Coupe de France Final; he missed the match as the loan agreement ended two weeks prior to the final, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/schedule/fra-coupe-de-france-2019-2020-finale/0/|title=France » Coupe de France 2019/2020 » Final|website=worldfootball.net |access-date=4 March 2020}}

Although looking to temporarily extend his loan, had Saliba featured, Arsenal reportedly would have been due to pay Saint-Étienne €2.5 million. The French club were reportedly reluctant to waive the fee and also requested full control over his training sessions. As a result, Saliba returned to Arsenal on 24 July 2020.{{Cite web|title=Arsenal and Saint-Étienne fail to reach William Saliba agreement|url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/arsenal-and-saint-etienne-fail-to-reach-william-saliba-agreement-30447394|access-date=16 July 2020|website=Onefootball|date=16 July 2020 }}

On 25 July 2019, Arsenal announced that Saliba had signed a long-term contract with the club.{{cite news|url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/salibasigns-saliba-join-club|title=#SalibaSigns: Saliba to join the club |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |date=25 July 2019|access-date=25 July 2019}} Media reported a contract duration of five years and that the transfer fee amounted to £27 million.{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Sonny |title=Arsenal sign Madrid's Ceballos on loan and £27m St Etienne defender Saliba |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/25/arsenal-sign-real-madrid-dani-ceballos-season-loan-unai-emery |access-date=25 July 2019 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=25 July 2019}} Arsenal faced competition from rivals Tottenham Hotspur to complete the deal, with both clubs meeting Saint-Étienne's valuation of the player, however, Saliba chose to join Arsenal, with the club's interest in Saliba dating back to late 2018.{{cite news |title=Dani Ceballos and William Saliba sign for Arsenal |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49117667 |access-date=25 July 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 July 2019}}

After spending the 2019–20 season on loan at former club Saint-Étienne, Saliba was handed the number 4 shirt upon his return to Arsenal in 2020.{{Cite web |date=23 July 2020 |title=Future captain? William Saliba given legendary Arsenal shirt number |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/07/23/future-captain-william-saliba-given-legendary-arsenal-shirt-number-13027190/ |access-date=2 October 2023 |website=Metro}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-shirt-numbers-2021-saliba-4-saka-7-elneny-ceballos-a4506466.html|title=New Arsenal shirt numbers: Saka 7, Saliba in for Elneny, Ceballos hint|date=23 July 2020|newspaper=London Evening Standard}} His first appearance for Arsenal was in a pre-season friendly match against MK Dons on 25 August 2020.{{Cite web|last=Byrom|first=David|date=25 August 2020|title=Arsenal fans love what William Saliba did against MK Dons in 4–1 friendly win|url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/william-saliba-arsenal-mk-dons-18828647|access-date=17 February 2021|website=Football.London}} He was also an unused substitute in the 2020 FA Community Shield, which Arsenal clinched by defeating Liverpool 5–4 in the penalty shootout after the match was level at 1–1 after 90 minutes.{{Cite web|title=Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool (5-4 on pens): Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang secures Community Shield shootout win|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12059158/arsenal-1-1-liverpool-5-4-on-pens-pierre-emerick-aubameyang-secures-community-shield-shootout-win|access-date=17 February 2021|website=Sky Sports}}{{Cite web|last=Wilson|first=Amie|date=31 August 2020|title=William Saliba was feeling the cold ahead of Community Shield trophy lift.|url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/players/william-saliba-arsenal-community-shield-18856990|access-date=17 February 2021|website=Football.London}} However, he was then left out of the club's competitive squads for the 2020–21 season, leaving him only able to play for Arsenal U23s, for whom he featured in EFL Trophy games away to Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon, receiving a red card in the latter fixture.{{Cite web |date=10 November 2020 |title=Gillingham 1–1 Arsenal (2-4 pens) |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2020/november/report--gills-v-arsenal-u21/ |access-date=23 May 2022 |website= |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |date=9 February 2021 |title=William Saliba: Mikel Arteta judged me on two and a half matches at Arsenal |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12213175/william-saliba-mikel-arteta-judged-me-on-two-and-a-half-matches-at-arsenal |access-date=23 May 2022 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}} Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would later express "regret [over] the decision" before a January six-month loan move to France.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12117290/william-saliba-mikel-arteta-regrets-leaving-arsenal-defender-out-of-europa-league-squad|title=William Saliba: Mikel Arteta regrets leaving Arsenal defender out of Europa League squad|website=Sky Sports|access-date=7 February 2021}}

File:Lens - Nice (23-01-2021) 44 (cropped).jpg in 2021]]

On 4 January 2021, Saliba joined Ligue 1 club Nice on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.{{cite news |date=4 January 2021 |title=Saliba loaned to le gym |publisher=OGC Nice |url=https://www.ogcnice.com/en/news/41650/saliba-loaned-to-le-gym |access-date=4 January 2021 |archive-date=9 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209191716/https://www.ogcnice.com/en/news/41650/saliba-loaned-to-le-gym |url-status=dead }} He returned to France after reported plans for a loan to an unnamed EFL Championship club were scrapped. On 6 January 2021, he made his debut in a 2–0 loss against Brest in Ligue 1.{{Cite web|date=6 January 2021|title=William Saliba produced a lovely piece of skill on the edge of his own box during Nice debut|url=https://www.givemesport.com/1635519-arsenal-william-saliba-produced-a-lovely-piece-of-skill-on-his-nice-debut-vs-brest|access-date=17 February 2021|website=GiveMeSport}} Saliba was awarded Nice's Player of the Month award for his performances throughout January.

Saliba again left Arsenal for a loan in Ligue 1 in July 2021, joining Marseille for the 2021–22 season.{{cite news |last1=Orstein |first1=David |date=15 July 2021 |title=Arsenal transfer news: William Saliba loan deal agreed with Marseille |website=The Athletic |url=https://theathletic.com/news/arsenal-transfers-william-saliba-marseille-loan/RtDXDRMbcfoh |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 July 2021}} With fellow Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi, he made his competitive debut for the club when he started in a 3−2 away win against Montpellier on 8 August 2021.{{Cite web |title=Payet inspires Marseille victory over Montpellier |url=https://www.ligue1.com/Articles/MATCH%20REPORTS/2021/08/08/payet-inspires-marseille-victory-over-montpellier |access-date=6 June 2022 |website=Ligue1 COM |language=en}} He would make a total of 52 appearances and help the club reach the semi-finals of the inaugural Europa Conference League season, whilst also securing Champions League football for the club's following season. Saliba was named as Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and was awarded a position in the Team of the Year.{{Cite web |last=Small |first=Aidan |date=16 May 2022 |title=Saliba named UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/saliba-named-unfp-ligue-1-young-player-year |access-date=23 May 2022 |website= |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |language=en}} Despite interest from Marseille and other European clubs for another season away from Arsenal, Saliba announced his desire to return to Arsenal when speaking with French football programme Téléfoot.{{Cite news |last=McNicholas |first=Jacob Whitehead and James |title=William Saliba confirms return to Arsenal |url=https://theathletic.com/news/william-saliba-return-arsenal/s9OLtimfEjg8/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 June 2022 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}

Ahead of the 2022–23 season, Saliba was given the number 12 shirt.{{cite web |title=William Saliba Biography |url=https://www.arsenal.com/men/players/william-saliba |access-date=2 August 2022 |publisher=Arsenal F.C.}} He made his Arsenal and Premier League debut on 5 August 2022 in an opening day fixture away to Crystal Palace.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62342936 |title=Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal: Gunners look 'hungry' after win, says Mikel Arteta |last=Bysouth |first=Alex |date=5 August 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=6 August 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.arsenal.com/fixture/arsenal/2022-Aug-05/crystal-palace-0-2-arsenal-match-report |title=Report: Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal |last=Rogers |first=Jonathon |date=5 August 2022 |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |access-date=6 August 2022 }} Arsenal won the game 2−0 with Saliba's performance being described by the BBC as "unruffled and virtually faultless".{{cite web |title=Saliba shines as Arsenal start season in style |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 August 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62444740 |access-date=6 August 2022}} He scored his first goal for the club two weeks later in a win over AFC Bournemouth, with a curled shot from the edge of the box.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62529370 |accessdate=20 August 2022 |date=20 August 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport |title=Saliba scores first goal as Arsenal win}} The strike was voted as the club's Goal of the Month for August.{{cite web |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/salibas-stunner-tops-our-goal-month-poll |title=Saliba's stunner tops our Goal of the Month poll! |date=15 September 2022 |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |access-date=16 September 2022 }}

On 16 March 2023, Saliba picked up a back injury in Arsenal's Europa League match against Sporting CP, which would ultimately rule him out for the rest of the season. He had played in all of Arsenal's Premier League games up until then, and it was initially thought that he would return within a few weeks to aid in Arsenal's title run-in. His absence proved to be crucial, as Arsenal struggled defensively, and their subsequent dip in form saw them surrender their lead at the top of the table to eventual champions Manchester City.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64971711 |first=Emma |last=Sanders |accessdate=20 August 2023 |date=16 March 2023 |publisher=BBC Sport |title=Arsenal knocked out in penalty shootout defeat}}{{cite web |date=16 March 2023 |title=Every word from Arteta's post-Sporting CP presser |url=https://www.arsenal.com/full-transcript-mikel-arteta-post-match-press-conference-read-every-word-europa-league-sporting-cp |accessdate=20 August 2023 |website= |publisher=Arsenal F.C.}}{{cite web |last=Small |first=Aidan |date=19 March 2023 |title=Arteta on the win, Saka and injuries |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/arteta-win-saka-and-injuries |accessdate=20 August 2023 |website= |publisher=Arsenal F.C.}}{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=Jonathon |date=5 May 2023 |title=Arteta on Gabriel and Saliba's injury status |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/arteta-gabriel-and-salibas-injury-status |accessdate=20 August 2023 |website= |publisher=Arsenal F.C.}}{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=Jonathon |date=12 May 2023 |title=Arteta update on Zinchenko and Saliba |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/artetas-update-zinchenko-and-saliba |accessdate=20 August 2023 |website= |publisher=Arsenal F.C.}}

On 7 July 2023, Saliba signed a new long-term deal with the club until 2028, and was given the number 2 shirt.{{cite web |date=7 July 2023 |title=William Saliba signs new contract |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/william-saliba-signs-new-contract |access-date=2 October 2023 |publisher=Arsenal F.C.}}{{Cite news |title=Arsenal defender Saliba pens new four-year deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 July 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65868632 |access-date=2 October 2023 |via=}} In the 2023–24 season, he became the first Arsenal outfield player who played every minute (3,420) of a season for the club in the Premier League era.{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=Jonathon |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/salibas-record-breaking-season-stats |title=Saliba's record-breaking season - the stats |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |date=21 May 2024 }}

He received the first red card of his professional career in a 2−0 loss at the Vitality Stadium on 19 October 2024, when he was shown a straight red (Arsenal's third dismissal in their opening eight league matches of the 2024-25 season) for taking down Bournemouth striker Evanilson on the halfway line in what was controversially deemed by referee Robert Jones to be a clear goal-scoring opportunity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/19/bournemouth-arsenal-premier-league-match-report|title=Kluivert wraps up Bournemouth win from spot as Arsenal rue Saliba red|last=Aarons|first=Ed|website=The Observer|date=19 October 2024|access-date=19 October 2024}} On 4 December 2024, Saliba scored his first goal of the 2024-25 campaign, deflecting in Thomas Partey's header against Manchester United in the 2-0 victory.{{Cite web |date=4 December 2024 |first=Jonathon |last=Rogers |title=Report: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United |url=https://www.arsenal.com/fixture/arsenal/2024-Dec-04/arsenal-2-0-manchester-united-match-report |website=Arsenal.com |access-date=6 December 2024}} He scored again that week against Fulham, this time in a 1-1 draw at the Craven Cottage.{{cite web |date=8 December 2024 |last=James |first=Josh |title=Report: Fulham 1-1 Arsenal |url=https://www.arsenal.com/fixture/arsenal/2024-Dec-08/fulham-1-1-arsenal-match-report |website=Arsenal.com |language=en |access-date=10 December 2024}}

On 21 March 2022, Saliba received a call-up to France's senior squad for the first time as an injury replacement to Benjamin Pavard to play in friendlies against the Ivory Coast and South Africa.{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Benjamin-pavard-bayern-forfait-william-saliba-om-appele-en-equipe-de-france/1323576|title=Benjamin Pavard (Bayern) forfait, William Saliba (OM) appelé en équipe de France|website=L'Équipe|date=21 March 2022|access-date=22 March 2022}} He played in five of France's 2022–23 UEFA Nations League games.{{cite web |title=William Saliba |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/teams/players/250127439--william-saliba/matches/ |access-date=2 April 2023 |website= |publisher=UEFA}} In November 2022, Saliba was called up to the 26-man France squad that would compete in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.{{Cite web |date=18 December 2022 |title=France Squad WC22 |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/france-world-cup-2022-squad-players-line-up-qatar |access-date=2 October 2023 |website=fourfourtwo.com}} He made his tournament debut on 30 November, replacing Raphaël Varane in the 63rd minute of France's final group game against Tunisia.{{cite web |date=30 November 2022 |title=Tunisia 1–0 France |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/255711/285063/400235465 |access-date=2 April 2023 |website= |publisher=FIFA}} In May 2024, Saliba was included in France's squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.{{cite web |date=16 May 2024 |title=Les vingt-cinq Bleus pour l'Euro |trans-title=The twenty-five Blues for the Euro |url=https://www.fff.fr/article/12507-les-vingt-cinq-bleus-pour-l-euro.html |access-date=16 May 2024 |website=fff.fr |publisher=Fédération Française de Football |language=fr}}

Saliba was born in Bondy, Seine-Saint-Denis.{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur68333.html |title=William Saliba |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=30 August 2020 |language=fr}} His father is Lebanese and his mother is Cameroonian.{{Cite web |last=Bisseck |first=Louis Paul |date=14 September 2021 |title=Arsenal regrette déjà le départ de Saliba |trans-title=Arsenal already regret Saliba's departure |url=https://camfoot.com/les-lions-en-club/marseille-arsenal-regrette-deja-le-depart-de-saliba31759,348388.html |access-date=2 October 2023 |website=camfoot.com |language=fr}}{{cite news |last1=Jacob |first1=Gary |date=25 July 2019 |title=William Saliba: The promising teenager coached by Kylian Mbappé's father |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/william-saliba-the-promising-teenager-coached-by-kylian-mbappes-father-jmfnv96br |access-date=6 April 2020}}

{{updated|match played 23 April 2025}}{{soccerway|william-saliba/551454}}

{{notelist}}

{{updated|match played 23 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=31860|title=William Saliba|website=EU-Football.info|access-date=25 March 2022}}

Saint-Étienne

• Coupe de France runner-up: 2019–20{{Cite web |date=24 July 2020 |title=Mbappé suffers ankle injury as PSG beat 10-man Saint-Étienne to lift French Cup |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jul/24/mbappe-suffers-ankle-injury-as-psg-beat-10-man-saint-etienne-to-lift-french-cup |access-date=21 June 2022 |website=The Guardian}}

Arsenal

• FA Community Shield: 2020,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53871874 |title=Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool |first=Emma |last=Sanders |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2020 |access-date=30 August 2020}} 2023{{cite news |date=6 August 2023 |title=Arsenal 1–1 Manchester City (4–1 on pens): Gunners win shootout to secure Community Shield |first=Gary |last=Rose |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66352143 |access-date=6 August 2023 |publisher=BBC Sport}}

France

• FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2022{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63932622 |title=Argentina 3–3 France |first=Phil |last=McNulty |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 December 2022 |access-date=18 December 2022}}

Individual

• UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year: 2021–22
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2021–22{{cite news |title=L'équipe type de la saison de Ligue 1 aux trophées UNFP avec un trio d'attaque Terrier-Ben Yedder-Mbappé |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/L-equipe-type-de-la-saison-de-ligue-1-aux-trophees-unfp-avec-un-trio-d-attaque-terrier-ben-yedder-mbappe/1333260 |access-date=18 May 2022 |work=L'Équipe |date=15 May 2022 |language=fr}}
• PFA Team of the Year: 2022–23 Premier League,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66650723 |title=Erling Haaland: Manchester City forward wins PFA men's Player of the Year award |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2023 |access-date=29 August 2023}} 2023–24 Premier League{{cite news|url=https://www.thepfa.com/news/2024/8/20/pfa-premier-league-team-of-the-year-2024|title=PFA Premier League Team of the Year|publisher=Professional Footballers' Association|access-date=20 August 2024|date=20 August 2024}}
• The Athletic European Men's Team of the Season: 2023–24
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2024{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/news/028f-1b61a0e91074-427664e9bbfe-1000--uefa-euro-2024-team-of-the-tournament/ |title=UEFA EURO 2024 Team of the Tournament |publisher=UEFA |date=16 July 2024 |access-date=16 July 2024}}
• The Best FIFA Men's 11: 2024{{cite news |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DDsD_phSZWt/?igsh=MXZvOWEyZG8yOHRpYw==| title=Instagram }}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.arsenal.com/men/players/william-saliba Profile] at the Arsenal F.C. website
• {{FFF player}}
• {{UEFA player}}

{{Arsenal F.C. squad}}

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Category:2001 births

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