4 hours ago
2
Upgrade for the Frenchman
©TM/IMAGO
Arsenal's defensive record has been incredible this season - the Gunners have conceded just 10 goals in 21 games. And at the heart of that has been their French centre-back William Saliba. The elegant 24-year-old combines incredible one-on-one defending with calm composure on the ball. He has missed the last few games through injury and his team have certainly missed him. In the latest Premier League market value update he was rewarded with +€10 million rise in market value to take his new figure to €90m.
That makes him not only the most valuable centre-back in the world, but the most valuable defender on the planet. Saliba has looked back to his best this season. It's almost impossible getting around him in one-on-one situations and he is so composed on the ball. At 24 years of age, he is now entering his peak years and there is a huge market for him - Real Madrid have been known admirers for some time now. But just how did Saliba get to this point of holding such an accolade?
William Saliba & his journey to the top
Back in 2019, Arsenal completed the signing of the, at the time, 18-year-old Saliba from Ligue 1 side Saint-Étienne for €30m. At the time, he is market value stood at just €12m. The Gunners then sent the teenage centre-half back to initially Nice, and then Marseille on loan. Saliba began to then really build a reputation in France, but it remained unclear how he would fit into Mikel Arteta's team, and whether the Spaniard, in fact, trusted him enough. Saliba had a €30m market value upon his return, but his manager was ready to test his mentality.
“I was so excited to do a pre-season with the team and to try to play in the Premier League,” Saliba told the Daily Mail of his initial meeting with Arteta in pre-season before the 2022/23 campaign. “He said hello to me the first day, and then after he didn’t speak with me.” In that following season, Saliba's career at Arsenal erupted as the Gunners mounted an unexpected title challenge with the Frenchman at the heart of it. In fact, as Arteta's team somewhat collapsed during the run-in, that was when Saliba was out injured. That campaign, his market value shot up - more than doubling to €65m.
In the 2023/24 season, Arsenal came even closer to the Premier League title, but were pipped by Manchester City despite getting 89 points. Saliba was once again colossal and proved he was no one season wonder in the English top-flight - his market value increased to €80m by the end of that campaign. It stood at that same value until this December, where as mentioned, Arsenal's French centre-half rose further to €90m and became the world's most valuable defender.
The most valuable defenders in the world
Saliba is now worth €10m more than any other defender. Players with the same market value are ranked by age, youngest first. The second most valuable defender is Barcelona's teenage centre-back Pau Cubarsí, who has a market value of €80m at just 18 years of age. In third, also with a €80m valuation, is Inter Milan's 26-year-old central defender Alessandro Bastoni. Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi takes fourth - the 27-year-old has an €80m market value too.
There's then a €5m jump to PSG's 23-year-old left-back Nuno Mendes in fifth and Saliba's centre-back partner at Arsenal Gabriel in sixth - that pair are both worth €75m. Seventh position goes to Real Madrid's 20-year-old centre-half Dean Huijsen, who has a €70m market value. In eighth place is Man City defender Josko Gvardiol - the 23-year-old is also worth €70m. As are Arsenal full-back Jurriën Timber, after his recent +€10m increase in the Premier League update, and Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold, after his -€5m downgrade in the latest LaLiga market value update.
