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William Alain André Gabriel Saliba
Named Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year 2021-2022
▪️ Full name: William Alain André Gabriel Saliba.
▪️ Date of birth: 24 March 2001.
▪️ Place of birth: Bondy, France.
▪️ Position: Centre-back.
▪️ Current club: Arsenal FC (since July 2019).
▪️ National team: France.
▪️ Height: 192 cm.
▪️ Previous clubs: Started his career at AS Saint-Étienne before moving to Arsenal. Has also been loaned to Nice and Olympique de Marseille.
▪️ Transfer to Arsenal: Signed by Arsenal from AS Saint-Étienne in 2019 for a transfer fee of about £27 million. He remained at Saint-Étienne on loan for the 2019–2020 season.
▪️ Playing style: Known for his physical strength, speed, and ability to read the game. He is a reliable and skilled defender with good technical abilities and excellent positioning.
William Alain André Gabriel Saliba, born 24 March 2001 in Bondy, France, is a French footballer who plays as a centre-back for Arsenal in the Premier League and the French national team. Saliba is known for his speed, strength, and understanding of the game, making him one of the most promising young defenders in European football.
Saliba began his career at Saint-Étienne and made his debut in the French A-team as a 17-year-old in 2018. His impressive performances there caught the attention of several major clubs, and in 2019 he was signed by Arsenal. He immediately returned to Saint-Étienne on loan to continue his development. Saliba also spent time on loan at other Ligue 1 clubs like Nice and Marseille, where he was named Young Player of the Year in Ligue 1 2021–2022.
After his loan periods, Saliba returned to Arsenal ahead of the 2022–2023 season and quickly became an important part of the club's defence. He has been praised for his mature playing style, strong positioning, and his ability to play the ball out from the defence.
Saliba made his debut for the French senior national team in 2022 and has since become an increasingly regular feature in the squad. With his combination of technical skill and defensive stability, he is seen as a future cornerstone in both his club and national teams. William Saliba is already a player with great potential, and he is expected to continue developing into one of the world's best defenders.