Real Madrid launch world-record transfer bid as Arsenal fears realised

Robin Bairner

Updated: 10 Apr 2025 14:07 BST
3 min read

William Saliba, Arsenal, Real Madrid, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Real Madrid plan to make William Saliba the most expensive central defender in history, with the Spanish side plotting a €100 million bid for the Arsenal star.

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Florentino Perez, president of Los Blancos, is said to have been enamoured by the France international centre-back, who featured for the duration of the Champions League clash between the sides on Tuesday, which ended in the Gunners recording a comprehensive 3-0 win.

Current ETV

William Saliba

D (C)

Arsenal

William Saliba

D (C)

Arsenal

ETV Range

€59.6M - €99.4M

Real Madrid are now ready to eclipse the €90m Manchester City paid to sign Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig in order to land Saliba, Fichajes reports.

The 24-year-old has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) €79.5 million.

William Saliba: Real Madrid have fallen in love with Arsenal star

Fabrizio Romano has explained how Real Madrid view Saliba as the “Jude Bellingham of defenders” and are obsessed with the idea of signing the Saint-Etienne academy product, who was signed by Arsenal in 2019.

Now Real Madrid are ready to make their move, with Perez left certain of the idea that a move must be made following the Champions League encounter between the teams.

While Saliba was unmoved by the Spaniards’ all-star front four of Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid defence was, by contrast, shambolic. In particular, veterans David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger looked well past their best, and the Frenchman is seen as a solution to this problem.

“Saliba represents the ideal profile: young, imposing, with tactical awareness, measured aggression, and a clean exit from the back that fits with Ancelotti's style of play,” Fichajes states.

This move is no kneejerk reaction. Saliba is seen as a potential leader of the Real Madrid defence for the next decade.

It is noted, however, that Saliba will not be easy to sign. The Arsenal centre-back is under contract until 2027, with talks planned for an extension for the player. Meanwhile, the Gunners will demand a nine-figure transfer fee that is unprecedented for a central defender.