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Feature
- 9 hours ago
Arsenal ROCKED as Fabrizio Romano confirms Real Madrid centre back signing
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 13 May 2025 08:39 BST
- 3 min read
News
Real Madrid will sign a centre back this summer, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.
The Italian transfer journalist reports that Madrid have made the signing of a new central defender a priority as requested by incoming manager Xabi Alonso.
Current ETV
William Saliba
D (C)
Arsenal
William Saliba
D (C)
Arsenal
ETV Range
€59.6M - €99.4M
Alonso will become the next manager of the Blancos at the end of the season, replacing Carlo Ancelotti who is taking over the Brazil national team.
One of the first requests of Alonso was to sign a new centre back, a position that has been a big problem for Madrid this season.
Will Madrid try to sign Saliba?
This comes as bad news for Arsenal as William Saliba has long been the priority target for Madrid, something that Romano has recently confirmed himself.
Marca reported last week that Madrid president Florentino Perez has given the go-ahead for the club to go all-in for the Arsenal defender at the end of the season.
RMC claims that Madrid are prepared to make Saliba the most expensive defender in football history.
This would mean Madrid paying more than the €87 million that Man Utd paid for Harry Maguire from Leicester in 2019.
Saliba is understood to be open to a move to Madrid and his contract situation also puts Arsenal in difficulty.
Saliba's contract at Arsenal expires in 2027, though, meaning that the Gunners need to extend his deal soon.
The Blancos have suffered badly defensively this season. They are already set to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer from Liverpool and now want to add another Premier League ace.
Romano also adds that Madrid plan to sign a new left back this summer, too.
Saliba has been integral to Arsenal’s progress under Mikel Arteta in recent years and is considered by many as the best defender in the Premier League.
He has formed arguably the strongest centre back partnership in England alongside Gabriel.
Saliba at Arsenal
The 24-year-old Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in 2019 for £27 million.
After a series of loans, he established himself as a key player from the 2022-23 season as Arsenal twice finished runners-up in the Premier League.
He has made 132 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals.
Saliba has also become a first-team starter for France this year, playing in their journey to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
He has won 28 caps for France and was also part of their squad for the 2022 World Cup where they reached the final.
