William Saliba has grown to become one of the biggest stars in the Arsenal team, developing from a young talent on loan.
Arsenal paid £27million to secure a transfer for William Saliba in 2019 from Saint-Etienne, landing the young defender as one for the future.
He went on to spend several seasons on loan in France before finally returning to the Emirates Stadium to feature under Mikel Arteta.
The Arsenal boss saw his faith repaid as the Frenchman has grown into one of the best defenders in world football.
So with that said, here’s a look at everything you need to know about the life of William Saliba.
William Saliba’s age
William Saliba was born on March 24, 2001, which makes him 23 years old at the time of writing and still at the start of his professional career.
Where was William Saliba born?
William Saliba was born in Bondy, which is a commune located near central Paris in France, the national team that the star represents.
William Saliba height
Arsenal ace William Saliba measures in at approximately 1.92 metres – or around six foot and four inches tall.
Which position does William Saliba play?
William Saliba has spent his career playing as a centre-back, featuring heavily in the backline for Arsenal.
What is William Saliba’s strongest foot?
William Saliba is predominantly right-footed, which has often seen him line up on the right side of a defensive backline.
William Saliba’s parents
Not much is known about William Saliba’s parents, though it is known that he has Cameroonian citizenship through his mother, while his father is Lebanese.
He could represent either nations on the international stage, but opted to play for his country of birth, France.
- READ MORE: Mikel Arteta has former Arsenal ace he banished to thank for £27m William Saliba transfer decision
Does William Saliba have a girlfriend?
As it stands, there is no information as to whether William Saliba has a girlfriend or a partner outside of his life on the football pitch.
The Arsenal defender leads a relatively private life outside of featuring for the Gunners.
William Saliba’s friendship with Kylian Mbappe
Top football players can often meet through the ranks of youth football before going on to become friends.
That was certainly the case for William Saliba and Kylian Mbappe, with the former being coached by the latter’s father.
“I know Kylian Mbappe, too,” Saliba told the official Arsenal website upon joining the club. “He went to my primary school when we were little, and his father was my coach when I was little, too.”
Meanwhile, Mbappe told Ouest-France on his relationship with Saliba: “I have known him since he was very, very young. We were in the same primary school in Bondy. We played football together on our breaks, even though we weren’t in the same year, but he asked to play with us.
“We allowed it because he was already big! Then my dad trained him at AS Bondy. I am three years older than him so I saw him grow up by following his journey and his games closely.
“Seeing him in the national team, going from Bondy to Les Bleus, made me really happy. I tried to integrate him into the group as quickly as possible.”
William Saliba’s Arsenal contract
William Saliba signed his current Arsenal contract back in 2023, with the expiration currently set for 2027.
According to Capology, Saliba earns £190,000-per-week, which equates to £9,880,000-per-year from the club.
William Saliba career statistics away from Arsenal
Before joining Arsenal, Saliba spent plenty of time at Saint-Etienne, where he impressed enough to earn a move to the Gunners.
A return to his old club on loan followed, before loan spells with OGC Nice and Olympique Marseille followed.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint-Etienne | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| OGC Nice | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Olympique Marseille | 52 | 0 | 0 |
Saliba has since gone on to become a star at Arsenal, where he continues to move from strength to strength.
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