Arsenal star William Saliba has admitted it would be “tempting” to join a club like Real Madrid, but he is keen to carry on improving with the Gunners.
It comes as Saliba recently signed a new contract at Arsenal, which extends his stay with the club until 2030.
The Frenchman has been a standout for the North London outfit ever since Mikel Arteta gave him a chance in the side.
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Several loan spells made him ready to step into the Arsenal side, where he has helped power the side on to Premier League and Champions League title challenges.
The trophies haven’t followed for the star, however, which remains a driving factor behind his stay at the Emirates Stadium, over a move to Real Madrid.
William Saliba looks on before France vs Azerbaijan
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
William Saliba says he won’t be joining Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid next season
William Saliba’s time at Arsenal has seen him in the spotlight for some impressive performances, with discussions surrounding whether he is the best defender in the world.
While there is still plenty of room for growth, there’s little surprise that other teams have started to take notice of his performances.
Reports have stated that Real Madrid have an interest in Saliba that dates back some time, but they have been unable to lure him away from Arsenal.
That wait looks set to go on, with the new contract offering greater security to both the club and the player.
Now, following that new deal, Saliba has spoken out on the links with Real Madrid in an interview with French TV station Telefoot, as he said: “Of course it’s really tempting when a club like that is interested in you… but I wanted to win titles at Arsenal first before thinking about anything else.”
❤️🤍 William Saliba on Real Madrid interest: “Of course it's really tempting when a club like that is interested in you…
…but I wanted to win titles at Arsenal first before thinking about anything else”, told Telefoot. pic.twitter.com/9BRv1qzIyM
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 3, 2025
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It certainly doesn’t close the door on a future transfer to Los Blancos, but the defender has moved to shut down any immediate moves.
Saliba was also asked about reuniting with Kylian Mbappe, an old friend of his from their days growing up together at AS Bondy.
On the possibility of turning from international teammates to club teammates next summer, the Arsenal star said: “No, no, the Bondy connection is with the French national team, for now.”
Whether that move happens in the future, however, remains to be seen.
William Saliba and Kylian Mbappe look on during the Euro 2024 semi-final
Photo by Boris Streubel – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
How much is William Saliba worth in the transfer market
With a new contract in hand, Arsenal have prevented an awkward situation where Saliba would have only one year remaining on his contract next summer.
It means that any sale over the next few years is likely to come with a hefty fee, not least for someone who is still only 24.
It’s unclear just how much he could go for, though it’s not tough to imagine that it would be for a world record fee for a defender.
According to CIES, Saliba is worth in the region of €95-110 million (£83-96 million), taking into account his age, contract and performance levels.
Given how important the Frenchman is to Arsenal, they could well demand more, not least if it’s from a Champions League rival like Real Madrid.