FOOTBALL
By Eishna Rawat
Posted on July 9, 2026 8:00 pm | Updated on July 9, 2026 5:13 pm Arsenal have slapped a €150m valuation on William Saliba amid interest from three European giants.
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William Saliba is at the centre of transfer talk this summer. Three of the continent’s biggest clubs have joined the race for him. As per the latest transfer news, Arsenal have set a €150m price tag, and few rivals will be willing to pay that much for the composed French centre-back.
William Saliba Contract Gives Arsenal Control
The Gunners are in no rush to sell. Their calm stance reflects genuine confidence. As reported by CaughtOffside, people within football’s agent network have flagged growing interest from Barcelona in the defender. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have also entered the picture. Even so, nothing short of a €150m bid will get Arsenal to the negotiating table.
That confidence also comes from contract security. The centre-back signed fresh terms last year with the deal running until 2030, as reported by Sky Sports. That leaves the club under no pressure to react to interest from three leading European sides.
He arrived from Saint-Etienne in 2019 for around €30m. Since then, the Frenchman has developed into one of the league’s most reliable defenders, having also spent time out on loan earlier in his career. His partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes has been key to the team’s rise. It also helped deliver a first Premier League title in over two decades last season, plus a run to the Champions League final.
Why Barcelona Interest Faces Financial Hurdles
Looking purely at the football side of things, Barcelona’s interest is easy to understand. Barcelona lost Inigo Martinez this summer, leaving a void at the heart of defence. So they need a long-term leader at the back. The 25-year-old fits that role well, thanks to his calm play from the back and his physical strength in one-on-one duels. As reported by Football365, Barcelona have already spent heavily on Anthony Gordon this window, which makes a second major outlay even harder to justify.
Financially, though, matching that price looks far tougher. As reported by TheHardTackle, a fee this size would break the transfer record for a defender. It would comfortably beat what Manchester United once paid for Harry Maguire. Barcelona have also had to manage their wage bill carefully in recent seasons. That only adds to the challenge ahead.
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain may have more financial freedom. Even so, neither finds a nine-figure fee easy to justify. PSG, in particular, reportedly want a long-term partner for Willian Pacho as their current options age. As reported by FootballTransfers, the north London club see the asking price as close to non-negotiable. It appears designed to discourage rivals rather than encourage a deal.
William Saliba Represents Long-Term Value
William Saliba is not just another name in transfer gossip. He is entering the prime years of his career. He also just helped his side lift the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2004. Even a record fee would not offset the void his departure could leave in a position built on continuity.
William Saliba for Arsenal in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Duels Won Tackles Recoveries
Premier League 31 131 35 113
FA Cup 2 2 1 9
EFL Cup 5 23 11 16
UCL 12 41 11 39
Top-class centre-backs of his mould are hard to find, and few pair this level of physical presence with such an assured touch on the ball. His displays during a deep World Cup run with France only added to that reputation this year.
In the end, interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain should be seen as praise, not pressure to sell. Holding onto the France international says more about where the club wants to go than any transfer fee ever would.
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Eishna Rawat
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