William Saliba is a French centre-back who plays for Arsenal and the French national team. He was born on March 24, 2001, in Bondy, a suburb northeast of Paris. His father is Lebanese and his mother is Cameroonian. He started playing football at age six for his local team AS Bondy, where he was coached by Kylian Mbappé’s father.
Saliba began his professional career in 2018 with Saint-Étienne and helped them qualify for the Europa League. In 2019, he joined Arsenal for a reported fee of £27 million. He didn’t play for Arsenal right away, but went on loan back to Saint-Étienne, then to Nice, and then to Marseille between 2019 and 2022. After those loan spells, he returned to Arsenal and became a first-team regular.
He made his senior debut for France in 2022. He got his first call-up in March 2022 as an injury replacement for Benjamin Pavard. He played in five of France’s Nations League games that year. In November 2022, he was named to France’s 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar. He made his tournament debut on November 30, replacing Raphaël Varane in the 63rd minute of France’s final group match against Tunisia. In May 2024, he was included in France’s squad for Euro 2024.
5 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About William Saliba
From ‘Scary’ Striker to Centre-Back
It’s hard to imagine now, but Saliba wasn’t always a composed centre-back. He started his football journey as a striker and only moved to defense at age 14. He has fond memories of his time as a forward, admitting he scored a lot of goals and considered himself one of the best on his team. A natural goal-scorer turned defensive rock.
Coached by Kylian Mbappé’s Father
Growing up in the Parisian suburb of Bondy, Saliba played for local club AS Bondy. It is the same team where Kylian Mbappé honed his skills. Not only did he go to the same primary school as Mbappé, but he was also coached by Mbappé’s father, who was a coach at the club. A Bondy brotherhood.
A ‘Lazy Sulker’ as a Kid
Despite his now-impeccable work ethic, Saliba admits he was a lazy player in his youth. He has described himself as a “lazy sulk” who would only do a few sprints before standing still with his hands on his hips. His coaches constantly told him off for his lack of effort, which is why he was never made captain.
Arsenal Fan Since Age Six
Saliba’s move to Arsenal was a childhood dream. He has supported the club since he was six years old and even has a photo of himself wearing an Arsenal shirt at that age. His first-ever football shirt was an Arsenal jersey with Thierry Henry’s name on the back. He considers it “fate” that he ended up at the club.
The ‘Most Unintentionally Funny’ Person
On the pitch, Saliba is calm and composed. Off it, he’s a completely different character. Former teammate Aaron Ramsdale revealed Saliba is “the most unintentionally funny person ever.” Ramsdale said Saliba would often mumble or make random noises like “Uhhh,” bringing a light-hearted and hilarious presence to the dressing room. A silent comedian.
FAQs
Q. Which club does William Saliba play for?
A. William Saliba plays for Arsenal.
Q. Which national team does William Saliba represent?
A. Saliba represents France internationally.
Q. Where was William Saliba born?
A. Saliba was born in Bondy, France.
Q. Which club did Saliba join in 2019?
A. Saliba joined Arsenal in 2019.
Q. When did William Saliba make his senior debut for France?
A. Saliba made his senior debut for France in 2022.
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