Arsenal defender Saliba out for months with back injury

Arsenal defender William Saliba will miss an extended period of the upcoming season due to a back injury sustained while playing for France at the World Cup, the club confirmed on July 22, 2026. The 25-year-old center-back will not require surgery but must undergo a lengthy rehabilitation process, dealing a significant blow to the Premier League champions' title defense.

Saliba was substituted in the first half of France's World Cup semifinal defeat to Spain after experiencing what French national team coach Didier Deschamps described as unbearable pain. The player had reportedly been managing the issue for several months. Following his return to London this week, specialist assessments confirmed the injury and recommended a managed recovery program without an operation.

In a statement, Arsenal said Saliba's rehabilitation would begin immediately and that everyone at the club is focused on supporting his return to full fitness. While the club did not specify a timeline for his recovery, it is widely expected he could be sidelined for several months. This injury recurrence is concerning, as a back problem also ended Saliba's 2022-23 season prematurely.