21 Facts About William Saliba

William Saliba began his professional career at Saint-Etienne after graduating from the club's youth academy.

William Saliba scored his first goal for the club shortly after, helping the Gunners to a second-place finish.

William Saliba began playing football at the age of six, coached by the father of Kylian Mbappe.

William Saliba eventually moved south to Saint-Etienne in 2016, and signed his first contract at age 17, in May 2018.

William Saliba made 13 starting appearances in his first season at Saint-Etienne.

William Saliba played 17 games for the club across the campaign, helping Saint-Etienne reach the 2020 Coupe de France Final; he missed the match as the loan agreement ended two weeks prior to the final, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 25 July 2019, Arsenal announced that William Saliba had signed a long-term contract with the club.

Arsenal faced competition from rivals Tottenham Hotspur to complete the deal, with both clubs meeting Saint-Etienne's valuation of the player William Saliba chose to join Arsenal, with the club's interest in William Saliba dating back to late 2018.

William Saliba returned to France after reported plans for a loan to an unnamed EFL Championship club were scrapped.

William Saliba would make a total of 52 appearances and help the club reach the semi-finals of the inaugural Europa Conference League season, whilst securing Champions League football for the club's following season.

William Saliba was named as Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and was awarded a position in the Team of the Year.

William Saliba made his Arsenal and Premier League debut on 5 August 2022 in an opening day fixture away to Crystal Palace.

William Saliba scored his first goal for the club two weeks later in a win over AFC Bournemouth, with a curled shot from the edge of the box.

On 16 March 2023, William Saliba picked up a back injury in Arsenal's Europa League match against Sporting CP, which would ultimately rule him out for the rest of the season.

William Saliba had played in all of Arsenal's Premier League games up until then, and it was initially thought that he would return within a few weeks to aid in Arsenal's title run-in.

William Saliba's absence proved to be crucial, as Arsenal struggled defensively, and their subsequent dip in form saw them surrender their lead at the top of the table to eventual champions Manchester City.

On 7 July 2023, William Saliba signed a new long-term deal with the club until 2028, and was given the number 2 shirt.

On 21 March 2022, William Saliba received a call-up to France's senior squad for the first time as an injury replacement to Benjamin Pavard to play in friendlies against the Ivory Coast and South Africa.

In November 2022, William Saliba was called up to the 26-man France squad that would compete in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In May 2024, William Saliba was included in France's squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.

William Saliba's father is Lebanese and his mother is Cameroonian.