Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has identified William Saliba as his “dream signing” to lead a defensive overhaul at the Bernabéu, but the Arsenal centre-back is now considered untouchable following a significant contract renewal. As first reported by The Guardian, the 25-year-old committed his future to the North London club with a five-year extension running until June 2030, a deal worth an estimated £250,000 to £300,000 per week. While Spanish outlets including Football365 report that Arsenal have provided Real Madrid with an informal “right of first refusal” should they ever decide to sell, the France international’s valuation now exceeds €100m, forcing the European champions to explore alternatives such as Ibrahima Konaté and Dayot Upamecano.
Arsenal solidify Saliba’s long-term future
The contract signed in September 2025 represents a strategic victory for Arsenal, who moved to secure their defensive lynchpin after interest from Madrid intensified. Saliba has become arguably the premier defender in the Premier League, featuring in consecutive PFA Teams of the Year and recording more outfield minutes than any teammate over the last two campaigns. Speaking to Téléfoot, Saliba acknowledged the lure of the Spanish giants but reiterated his commitment to Mikel Arteta’s project.
“Of course, it's always tempting when a club like that tries to lure you, but for me, my desire was to stay at Arsenal,”Saliba said. He further emphasised his ambition to secure silverware before considering an exit, stating he could not leave without “giving them something back.”
Real Madrid forced to reconsider defensive strategy
For Real Madrid, the pursuit of Saliba was intended to address an ageing backline, with Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba both approaching the end of their current terms in 2026. While Perez typically targets elite talent entering the final 18 months of their contracts—successfully applying this pressure to sign Kylian Mbappé and pursue Alphonso Davies—Saliba’s four-year security at Arsenal has broken that model. CIES Football Observatory now values the Frenchman between €88m and €107m, an outlay Madrid appears hesitant to meet for a single defender. Consequently, reports in Spain suggest the club has pivoted toward the Bundesliga and Liverpool to find more attainable successors for their veteran central defenders ahead of the 2026/27 season.