2 William Saliba

• Full Name: William Alain André Gabriel Saliba
• Date of Birth: March 24, 2001
• Place of Birth: Bondy, France
• Position: Centre-back
• Current Club: Arsenal (Premier League)
• National Team: France

Early Life

Born in Bondy, France, Saliba comes from a diverse background—his father is Lebanese, and his mother is Cameroonian. He began playing football at the age of six under the coaching of Kylian Mbappé’s father, which helped shape his early development.

Club Career

Saint-Étienne: Early Breakthrough

Saliba moved to Saint-Étienne in 2016 and signed his first professional contract in May 2018, at just 17 years old. He made his Ligue 1 debut on September 25, 2018, in a 3–2 win over Toulouse. In his first season, he made 13 starts, helping Saint-Étienne qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

After signing for Arsenal in 2019, he returned to Saint-Étienne on loan for the 2019–20 season, playing 17 matches. He helped the club reach the 2020 Coupe de France Final, but due to a contract dispute, he missed the final and returned to Arsenal in July 2020.

Arsenal: A Long Road to Stardom

Signing and Early Challenges

Saliba officially joined Arsenal on July 25, 2019, for a reported £27 million fee, despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur. Given the number 4 shirt, he made his first Arsenal appearance in a pre-season friendly against MK Dons in August 2020.

However, Saliba was excluded from the first team and played only for Arsenal’s U23s, leading to a January 2021 loan move to Nice.

Loan Spells: Gaining Experience in France

Nice (2021)

Saliba joined Nice on loan in January 2021 and made his debut in a 2–0 loss to Brest. He impressed, winning Nice’s Player of the Month award in his first month.

Marseille (2021–22)

In July 2021, Saliba joined Marseille on a season-long loan. He played 52 games, helped them reach the Europa Conference League semi-finals, and secured Champions League qualification. His performances earned him the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award and a spot in the Team of the Year.

Despite interest from Marseille in a permanent transfer, Saliba expressed his desire to return to Arsenal.

Breakthrough at Arsenal (2022–Present)

2022–23 Season: Establishing Himself

Saliba returned to Arsenal for the 2022–23 season, taking the number 12 shirt. He made his Premier League debut on August 5, 2022, in a 2–0 win over Crystal Palace, delivering a standout performance.

Two weeks later, he scored his first goal for Arsenal with a curled shot against Bournemouth, which was voted Arsenal’s Goal of the Month.

However, in March 2023, Saliba suffered a back injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the season. His absence proved costly, as Arsenal’s defensive struggles contributed to losing the Premier League title race to Manchester City.

2023–24 Season: A Defensive Rock

Saliba signed a new contract until 2028 and was given the number 2 shirt. He played every minute (3,420) of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign, a first for an Arsenal outfield player in the Premier League era.

• October 2024: Received his first career red card in a 2–0 loss to Bournemouth.
• December 2024: Scored against Manchester United (2–0 win) and Fulham (1–1 draw).

International Career

Saliba has represented France at all youth levels before earning his senior debut on June 3, 2022.

• 2022–23 UEFA Nations League: Played in five matches.
• 2022 FIFA World Cup: Made his World Cup debut against Tunisia in the group stage.
• UEFA Euro 2024: Included in France’s squad for the tournament in May 2024.

Playing Style

Saliba is regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world, known for his:

✅ Strength
✅ Pace
✅ Tackling ability
✅ Composure on the ball
✅ Ability to play out from the back

His calmness under pressure and tactical awareness make him a key player for both Arsenal and France.