Arsenal’s standout centre-back, William Saliba, aged 23, has recently caught the eye of Real Madrid.
Indeed, his impressive displays on the pitch have ignited fresh transfer speculation that is resonating across Europe.
Notably, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has emphatically stated that Real Madrid regards Saliba as a superstar. Moreover, one insider even dubbed him the “Bellingham of defenders,” a comparison that underscores Saliba’s current brilliance and future potential.
Saliba has become one of world football’s premier centre-halves, thanks in part to his rock-solid partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes. Consequently, their formidable defensive duo has underpinned Arsenal’s title challenges over the last two-and-a-half seasons, adding weight to the ongoing discussions.
Real Madrid, always on the lookout for top-quality defenders ahead of the 2025/26 season, are reportedly circling Saliba. Furthermore, Sky Sports Switzerland claimed that preliminary talks between Real Madrid and Saliba’s camp have already taken place, while the Frenchman himself reportedly sees Madrid as the ultimate career dream—especially with the allure of playing alongside his friend Kylian Mbappe from Bondy.
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In terms of cost, Arsenal is believed to demand a fee of £100m for Saliba. Additionally, this price tag would make him the world’s most expensive defender, surpassing Harry Maguire’s £80m move to Manchester United in 2019 by a significant margin.
On his YouTube channel, Romano detailed that despite the high praise from Madrid, no official club-to-club contact has occurred yet. However, he stressed that Arsenal’s management, led by Arteta, will do everything possible to retain their crucial asset, ensuring that any move will not be taken lightly.
Meanwhile, Arteta appears equally determined to bolster his squad in the transfer window. In fact, the Arsenal boss has shown an obsession with adding a new No.9, with Alexander Isak and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko emerging as his top targets—thus highlighting his broader ambitions in the striker department.
Ultimately, the transfer saga remains wide open. In conclusion, while Real Madrid’s interest in Saliba is clear and Arsenal remains resolute in their plans, the coming weeks will reveal whether any deal materializes or if Saliba continues to anchor Arsenal’s defensive project.
