LONDON — Arsenal defender William Saliba has declared that winning trophies with the club is his sole focus, firmly dismissing any notion of a transfer away after signing a new long-term contract.
The French international, who was linked with Real Madrid this summer, explained that his commitment to the Gunners is driven by a sense of unfinished business. Unlike Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left Liverpool for Madrid after winning every major honor, Saliba feels his work in North London is just beginning.
“He won some titles with Liverpool. Me? I didn’t win anything here,” Saliba stated, referencing only the Community Shield. “I’ve done nothing for this club to think about leaving. I want to stay here and win a lot of trophies. I love this club. I cannot leave without giving them something back.”
Saliba, signed in 2019 but who only became a first-team regular in 2022, has been integral to Arsenal’s recent title challenges. Despite three consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League, the 23-year-old is fully invested in the project under Mikel Arteta.
“I knew that I wanted to stay here for more years, so I was not really focused on the other clubs,” Saliba said. “We are close to achieving things so we have to keep going.”