Comes as a national team player
William Saliba (21) has had a season at runners-up Olympique Marseille that the 21-year-old centre-back describes as “surprising or magical”. Arsenal’s loanee played 4,675 minutes for OM – more than in three years of professional play for AS St-Étienne, OGC Nice and the Gunners combined. “It’s my first full season. I wanted to show everyone who I really am,” Saliba said atTelefoot“. The Frenchman hasn’t even played in the Premier League for Arsenal, who paid €30m for him in 2019.
“I played zero games for them, I want to show them my true colors and have the chance to play for these fans and this big club,” said Saliba, who only played in the 2022 cup against Gillingham FC and lost 3-0 -Lost against AFC Wimbledon. He has now shattered the hopes of Marseille fans of seeing him at the Vélodrome for another season: “I belong to Arsenal, I still have two years of contract and I will return to Arsenal.”
Saliba thanks Olympique: “It was you who steered my career in the right direction”
The Gunners made Saliba the second most expensive central defender up to the age of 18 – an investment that has not yet paid off. However, there is much to suggest that this will change from 2022/23. France national coach Didier Deschamps made the 1.92 meter tall professional a national team player in March: “He’s a true defender. He’s good in tackles, is fast and has a good header. He is calm and composed with a lot of maturity.”
Kabak, Ndicka & Co.
Most expensive central defenders up to 18 yearsTo overview
Saliba is one of a manageable list of defensive talents, for whom more than 5 million euros was paid at the age of 18 – including world champions, European champions and a few flops. There is a good chance that Saliba will fully confirm his transfer. In Marseille he was able to increase his market value from 18 million to 30 million euros and is grateful for the time: “It felt like two or three years – it was really special. Even if I don’t come back to Marseille, I will never forget the time. Thank you OM, it was you who kick-started my career and steered it in the right direction.”
With Ndicka, Breno and Saliba: The most expensive central defenders up to the age of 18
At Arsenal, his competition for a regular spot is Ben White (24), Gabriel (24) and Rob Holding (26). Together with Saliba, the “Gunners” paid almost 120 million euros for their four central defenders. Marseille, on the other hand, loses its most valuable player after letting Boubacar Kamara (22), the second most valuable player, go to Aston Villa on a free transfer.
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