Arsenal have reached an agreement with William Saliba to extend his contract at the club with a deal set to be signed in the coming weeks.
According to reports, William Saliba will extend his contract at Arsenal by four more years to stay at the club until 2027.
The two parties have reached an agreement on key details of the new deal with only paperworks left to be signed.
William Saliba was key in Arsenal 2022/23 Premier League title push, despite making a debut appearance for the Gunners in the season.
The French star joined Arsenal in 2019 from French Ligue 1 side Saint Etienne but struggled to break into the club’s starting lineup.
He was sent back to his former club, Saint Etienne, on a season-long loan deal where he made 12 appearances for the club.
At the expiration of his loan tenure with Saint Etienne, Saliba could not still break into Arsenal’s lineup. He was loaned again to Nice in 2021. His last loan spell was with Marseille from 2021 to 2022.
The 2022/23 season is William Saliba’s first full season with Arsenal since joining the club in 2019.
Meanwhile, his five-year contract is set to expire next summer. Against all odds, Saliba suddenly became Mikel Arteta’s key man in Arsenal’s defensive options in the 2022-2023 season.
He made 27 appearances for the club, scoring two goals with one assists.
Saliba’s importance for the Gunners could be guaged when he picked up a back injury later in the season.
His injury marked the beginning of Arsenal’s slump from the Premier League title race.
Saliba’s stats this season marked a slight departure from his previous three years with the club which was expended on loan spells in French Ligue 1 clubs.
His outstanding performance with Arsenal this season has attracted interests from big clubs vying for his services but it appears the door has been shut against suitors as the 22-year-old opens a fresh chapter in his Arsenal career.
With a year remaining in his Arsenal contract, Arsenal were intent on keeping Saliba at Emirates after a standout performance this season.
The club reportedly engaged Saliba representatives for a possible contract renewal before the 2022 World Cup but both parties were yet to broker a deal.
Now, the Mail reports Arsenal and Saliba have finally reach an agreement on a new four-year contract extension which will keep the French star at the Emirates till 2027.
Details of the verbally-agreed deal is yet to be divulged but there is an optimism the he will be handed an improved wage offer at the club after an impressive performance this term.
He is currently among the least-paid players at Arsenal earning as low as £40,000 weekly at the club based on his old deal.
According to reports, Saliba wanted £120,000 weekly wage as a condition to agree a new deal with the Gunners. However, it is not yet confirmed whether Arsenal have agreed to his wage demand in the verbally agreed new deal.
William Saliba has now joined the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, Aaron Ramsdale, and Gabriel Martinelli, who have committed their future to the club with new deals.
