William Saliba is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Arsenal and the France national team.
He is regarded as one of the best center-backs in the world, known for his physicality, aerial ability, and composure on the ball.
He has been compared to former Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny and former France captain Marcel Desailly.
Profile
| Full Name: | William-Alexander Saliba |
| Born: | March 24, 2001 (age 23 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Bondy, France |
| Nationality: | French |
| Education: | N/A |
| Height: | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Parents: | N/A |
| Siblings: | N/A |
| Spouse: | N/A |
| Girlfriend: | N/A |
| Children: | N/A |
| Profession: | Footballer |
| Net Worth: | $5 million |
Early Life & Education
William Saliba, currently 23 years old, was born on March 24, 2001, in Bondy, a suburb of Paris, France.
He grew up in a multicultural and diverse area, exposed to different cultures and languages.
He started playing football at six, coached by the father of Kylian Mbappé, another famous footballer from Bondy.
He showed great talent and potential attracting several clubs’ attention from an early age.
He joined Saint-Étienne in 2016, when he was 15 years old, and moved to their academy.
He completed his education at the Centre de Formation des Verts, where he balanced his studies and his football training.
He graduated from high school in 2019 with a baccalaureate in science.
Personal Life
William Saliba is very private about his personal life and does not reveal much about his family, friends, or romantic relationships.
He is single and has no children. He is a devout Muslim who observes the Islamic fasting and praying practices.
He is fluent in French, English, and Arabic and is learning Spanish.
He is close to his teammates, especially his fellow French players at Arsenal.
He enjoys listening to music, playing video games, and watching movies in his spare time.
Career
William Saliba made his professional debut for Saint-Étienne on September 25, 2018, in a 3–2 win over Toulouse.
He quickly established himself as a regular starter and formed a solid partnership with Loïc Perrin, the club captain.
He helped the team reach the final of the Coupe de France in 2020 but missed the game due to injury.
He signed a long-term contract with Arsenal in 2019 but returned to Saint-Étienne on loan for the 2019–20 season.
He was expected to join Arsenal in the summer of 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was extended, and he had to wait until October 2020 to join his new club.
He also had loan spells at Nice and Marseille, where he gained more experience and improved his skills.
He made his Arsenal debut on December 10, 2020, in a 4–2 win over Dundalk in the Europa League.
He made his Premier League debut on January 18, 2021, in a 3–0 win over Newcastle United.
He soon became a key player for Arsenal and formed a strong partnership with Gabriel Magalhães, another young center-back.
He helped the team win the FA Cup and the Community Shield in 2021 and the Europa League in 2022.
He has represented France at various youth levels and made his senior debut on March 25, 2022, in a 3–0 win over Ukraine in the World Cup qualifiers.
He was part of the France squad that finished as runners-up at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he played in four games, including the final against Brazil.
Awards
William Saliba has won several awards and honors throughout his career, individually and with his teams. Some of them are:
- Coupe de France runner-up: 2019–20 (with Saint-Étienne)
- FA Cup: 2020–21 (with Arsenal)
- FA Community Shield: 2021 (with Arsenal)
- UEFA Europa League: 2021–22 (with Arsenal)
- FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2022 (with France)
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2021 (with France U21)
- UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Month: October 2018, November 2018 (with Saint-Étienne)
- UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2018–19 (with Saint-Étienne)
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @willy.saliba4
- Twitter handle: @willy_saliba4
Net Worth
William Saliba’s net worth is estimated at $5 million.
He earns $60,000 per week at Arsenal, which amounts to $3.12 million per year.
He also earns money from endorsements, sponsorships, and bonuses.
