William Saliba: Arsenal defender to spend season on loan at Marseille

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, Saliba has spent time on loan in France, including the second half of last season with Nice in Ligue 1

Arsenal and France Under-20 international William Saliba will join French side Marseille on loan for the upcoming season.

The centre-back, 20, signed for the Gunners from St Etienne in 2019 for a reported 拢27m but has yet to make his first-team debut.

He was loaned back to St Etienne for the 2019-20 campaign and spent the second half of last season with Nice.

Arsenal technical director Edu said the move would be good for Saliba's career.

He told the club's website: "Together with William, we have decided it will be good for his continued development to spend another season on loan.

"William joined us as an 18-year-old, and he is still only 20, so he is still developing all the time.

"William is a player with strong natural ability and next season has the potential to be really beneficial for him at Marseille, a good club.

"To play another season in Ligue 1 will be very important for his development."

Arsenal start the new Premier League season at promoted side Brentford on Friday, 13 August at 20:00 BST.