William Saliba will have to be sidelined for a long time after suffering a back injury in the French national team at the 2026 World Cup. This forces Arsenal to change their transfer plan before the new season.
The French center-back returned to London after the World Cup with a back problem. After a thorough examination, the medical team determined that Saliba did not need surgery but would have to undergo a long recovery program, meaning he would be absent for a considerable time.
Arsenal's official announcement said that Saliba will begin the recovery process immediately under the close supervision of the medical team, and affirmed that the biggest goal is to help the 25-year-old return to his best physical condition.
Comprehensive assessments have concluded that Saliba is not required to have surgery. But William will have to undergo a controlled rehabilitation program.
William's rehabilitation process will begin immediately. Arsenal will closely monitor the injury of this defender. It is expected that Saliba will have to be out of action for a long time" - Arsenal's homepage announced.
Saliba's injury forces Arsenal to add a central defender in the 2026 summer transfer window. According to British media, the "Gunners" board prioritizes buying a quality central defender instead of just looking for a short-term solution in the form of loans.
Although coach Mikel Arteta still has options like Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie, Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera or Ben White, injury problems and the need to maintain stability in defense make Arsenal decide to invest heavily in the center-back position.
The two names being considered by the Emirates Stadium team are Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa and John Stones, who just became a free agent after leaving Manchester City.
The new player, if he arrives at Emirates, is likely to immediately pair with Gabriel Magalhaes in the center of defense in the campaign to defend the Premier League title.
In addition to finding a replacement for Saliba, Arsenal can also receive a significant compensation from FIFA. According to the FIFA player protection program, clubs can receive a maximum of 7.5 million USD for each injury case occurring while on international duty, with a payment period of up to 365 days after the first 28 days off.
Arsenal's shopping activities have not stopped there. After withdrawing from the Morgan Rogers deal because Aston Villa requested up to 117 million pounds and for Chelsea to sign the England international, the London team still prioritized adding a winger to start.
Leandro Trossard's move to Besiktas also makes Arteta consider increasing the depth for both wings to ensure the force for the new season.
Arsenal will start the season with the English Super Cup match against Man City on August 16 before welcoming Coventry in the first round of the Premier League.
