Arsenal appear to be on the brink of securing a major contract extension that could shut the door on Real Madrid’s pursuit of William Saliba—at least for now. With the 2025/26 Premier League season approaching fast, the Gunners are racing against the clock to tie down their defensive cornerstone before kickoff on August 15.
Arsenal Move Quickly to Lock Down Saliba
Arsenal are reportedly finalizing a long-term contract extension for William Saliba in an effort to ward off growing interest from European giants Real Madrid. According to FootballTransfers, the club is closing in on a four-year deal with the French centre-back, whose current contract runs until 2027.
The urgency to complete the extension before the new season begins reflects the Gunners’ intent to solidify their defensive lineup for the long term. Club insiders have expressed “growing confidence” that the agreement will be wrapped up soon, with only minor details left to iron out.
Real Madrid Waiting in the Wings
Real Madrid have long been admirers of Saliba, who has emerged as one of the top defenders in world football. With a proven strategy of signing elite talent on free transfers, Los Blancos have been monitoring Saliba’s contract situation closely—similar to their successful moves for Kylian Mbappe and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Although Saliba is tied to Arsenal until 2027, Madrid had hoped to take advantage of any contract uncertainty. His agent, Djibril Niang, has reportedly opened dialogue with the Spanish club. However, with Arsenal now making decisive progress, Madrid may be forced to either wait or table a substantial transfer bid.
Defensive Stability a Priority for Arteta
Manager Mikel Arteta has made it clear that retaining his top players is essential as Arsenal look to build on back-to-back second-place Premier League finishes and a recent Champions League semi-final appearance.
Saliba’s renewal is part of a broader strategy to secure the club’s defensive core. His centre-back partner, Gabriel Magalhães, recently committed his future to Arsenal with a new contract in June—reportedly influenced by ongoing talks with Saliba.
Sources indicate Gabriel sought clarity on Saliba’s intentions before finalizing his own deal, suggesting the duo see their futures as closely linked. A confirmed renewal for Saliba would reinforce Arsenal’s ambitions to challenge both domestically and in Europe.
Arsenal Poised to Block Real Madrid’s Plans
Should the deal go through, Real Madrid’s path to signing Saliba becomes significantly more complicated. The Spanish side would need to wait another four years to approach him on a free or consider a hefty transfer fee to tempt Arsenal into negotiations.
Reports earlier this year even claimed Saliba was willing to accept a pay cut to join Madrid—a move that would have shaken Arsenal’s plans. Now, with a lucrative new contract on the table and optimism rising, those concerns seem to be fading fast.
