Arsenal defender William Saliba has been pictured modelling the club’s new home kit amid speculation that Real Madrid have been exploring a deal for the France international.
The Gunners unveiled their home strip for the 2025-26 season on Thursday morning, a traditional red and white Adidas design with the club’s recognisable ‘Gothic A’ woven into the pattern.
A host of men’s and women’s players modelled the strip for the North London giants, including Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead, Ethan Nwaneri and Riccardo Calafiori.
In addition, Saliba was chosen to show off the club’s new jersey, suggesting that the France international will be going nowhere this summer despite frequent links with a switch to the Bernabeu.
The 24-year-old’s contract at the Emirates Stadium runs out in just over two years’ time, and sporting director Andrea Berta is expected to hold talks with his camp over an extension in due course.
Saliba models new Arsenal home kit amid Real Madrid talk
Jurrien Timber x William Saliba | Home Kit 25/26 😍 pic.twitter.com/rEwMYkjwFm
— Le African Gooner (@leafricangooner) May 15, 2025
However, Real Madrid have been told to pay a world-record fee to strike a deal for Saliba this summer, and Los Blancos are now said to be advancing in talks to sign Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen.
Nevertheless, Saliba being pictured in the 2025-26 kit should lay any fears over his immediate future to rest, although Aaron Ramsdale was included in the launch for this season’s jersey before completing a move away.
Arsenal have confirmed that they will debut their new home kit in Sunday’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United, their final home game of the season and penultimate game of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Gunners will assure themselves of a top-five Premier League finish with a win this weekend, although their Champions League place will be virtually secure if Tottenham Hotspur can avoid defeat against Aston Villa – who are five points behind – on Friday.
Arsenal will have to cope without Mikel Merino for the visit of the Magpies due to suspension, but Mikel Arteta received a triple fitness boost during Wednesday’s open training session at the Emirates Stadium.
David Raya, Ethan Nwaneri change Arsenal numbers for 2025-26 season
© Imago
As well as the notable inclusion of Saliba in the home kit launch, Arsenal have confirmed that both David Raya and Nwaneri will take on new squad numbers for the 2025-26 season.
Raya has been sporting the 22 ever since his initial loan move from Brentford, but the Spaniard will now become Arsenal’s official number one, inheriting that shirt from his predecessor Ramsdale.
Raya also follows in the footsteps of the likes of David Seaman, Jens Lehmann and Bob Wilson by taking the number one jersey, while Nwaneri will don the 22 that his goalkeeper has left vacant.
The 18-year-old has sported the number 53 this season, but he will now wear the ’22’ that was previously in the hands of Gael Clichy for eight years, as well as David O’Leary, Francis Coquelin and Pablo Mari.
