Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Arsenal deal CONFIRMED, Real Madrid UPDATE, Liverpool TRUTH

Cameron Smith

• 26 Sept 2025 20:00 BST
• 6 min read

News

The 2025 summer window may be over, but there have been several movements in the market in recent days and Fabrizio Romano has dropped a transfer update on William Saliba, Ibrahima Konate and Hugo Ekitike.

Savinho to sign new Man City contract

Manchester City star Savinho was heavily linked with a summer move to Tottenham Hotspur, however Romano has confirmed that he is now set to sign a contract extension at the Etihad Stadium.

“After a crazy summer transfer window, Savinho is set to sign a new deal at Manchester City. The deal is fully agreed, it is done, and Savinho will stay at Man City with a new contract,” Romano told his YouTube channel.

Current ETV

Savinho

F (R), M (RL)

Man City

Savinho

F (R), M (RL)

Man City

€70.1M

ETV Range

€63.1M - €77.1M

View full profile

“In the summer, Man City had several conversations with Tottenham because Tottenham tried to sign Savinho in an aggressive and strong way. Tottenham first offered €50-55 million, which was rejected, and then they told Man City they were prepared to go beyond €70m for Savinho. The answer from Man City was always: ‘No. We don't want to sell the player.’

“City closed the doors to the exit of Savinho despite the possibility of getting important money for a player who was signed for a completely different fee. Now Savinho is staying at Manchester City and the new contract is ready. From what I'm told it’s done, verbally agreed and set to be signed. It will be valid until June 2031.

“So, a new six-year contract for Savinho at Man City and the end of the story with Tottenham.”

William Saliba new deal

Meanwhile, Arsenal defender William Saliba has also agreed to sign a new contract to end speculation of a move to Real Madrid.

“Congratulations to Arsenal because I’ve told you several times how Saliba was a top target for Real Madrid,” Romano revealed. “He was a big target for Real Madrid, but they were not in contact, [a deal was] because the ball was in Arsenal’s court.

“Arsenal sent an improved proposal to William Saliba at the end of August as they wanted to be fast to avoid Real Madrid trying to enter into conversations. There were two years left on his contract, but now a new five-year deal has been agreed between William Saliba and Arsenal.

“If Saliba wanted to wait maybe one more year and then eventually go to Real Madrid, he had the possibility to do so, [but] Saliba decided to commit to Arsenal and to trust the project.

“It’s fantastic news because they are showing that this project is advancing very well, that this project is trusted by their superstars and that they can keep players with very long contracts. They are not going to lose players as other clubs around Europe did in recent years.”

Ibrahima Konate to Real Madrid?

Although Real Madrid have missed out on Saliba, they could sign his international team-mate Ibrahima Konate in 2026.

“Real Madrid don't forget the name of Ibrahima Konate because his situation compared to Saliba has always been different,” Romano said.

“For Saliba there were active conversations to extend, but for Konate the situation has always been complicated since November. A new contract at Liverpool was quite close in October/November 2024, then there were some changes in the conversation and now the conversation is still difficult. Liverpool are still trying to extend the contract of Konate, and they made new attempts in August, but at the moment it looks difficult. It looks complicated.

Current ETV

Ibrahima Konaté

D (C)

Liverpool

Ibrahima Konaté

D (C)

Liverpool

€40.5M

ETV Range

€36.4M - €44.5M

View full profile

“So Konate is one of the names we have to keep on Real Madrid’s shortlist because they love a free transfer, because Konate is a player they appreciate and because Real Madrid have a very good relationship with the agents of Konate. So, for sure, Konate is still a possibility for Real Madrid.

“Until January, nothing will happen because Real Madrid will never do anything illegal by negotiating or agreeing with the player before January. If he doesn't extend the contract, Konate is going to be free to talk with any club and so Real Madrid is a possibility.”

Hugo Ekitike fine truth

Finally, Romano confirmed the truth about whether Liverpool will fine Hugo Ekitike following his red card in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

“It's really important to say what Arne Slot said today: There will be no fine for Hugo Ekitike, who got a red card against Southampton.

“Slot was not so happy after the game saying ‘that was very stupid, we can't make this kind of mistake.’

“There was a big story in the media saying that Ekitike was going to get a big fine. But, in reality, what happened behind the scenes is that Liverpool, the directors, the management and the coach, spoke to Ekitike.

“He apologised immediately to his team-mates and to the manager. He understood the mistake, but it was not with bad intentions at all, and this is why Liverpool decided not to give him a fine.”

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