The Gunners’ new defender was taught by the father of the free-scoring France international wonderkid

Arsenal new-boy William Saliba has revealed that he knew Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe when the pair were at school

And that the World Cup-winning forward’s father was his coach.

Saliba, a £27m ($33m) signing from St. Etienne, recently signed a five-year deal with the 

Gunners but will spend the upcoming season back on loan with the Ligue 1 side as part of the terms of his sale.

The 18-year-old centre-back grew up on an estate in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris called Bondy, where Mbappe also honed his skills as a boy.

“I know Kylian Mbappe,” Saliba said, speaking to Arsenal’s official website.

“He went to my primary school when we were little, and his father was my coach when I was little, too.”

Despite growing up in a tough neighbourhood, Saliba appears to speak fondly of his roots, 

Explaining that his childhood helped him learn determination to change his circumstances, as well as enjoying playing football with friends.

“I grew up on an estate,” Saliba continued.

“Honestly, growing up on an estate helps. You’re together with all your mates, you get to play in your neighbourhood on the local five-a-side pitches. 

“You’re all together, and everyone likes football there, so honestly it’s easy. When you come from an estate, you’ve got the determination to get out of it.

Saliba is one of three confirmed Arsenal signings in this window so far, with Gabriel Martinelli and Dani Ceballos the other two.

Martinelli is an 18-year-old winger, who joins from Brazilian side Ituano for a fee reported to be around the £6m (€6.5m/$7.3m) mark, while 22-year-old midfielder 

Ceballos arrives on a season-long loan from Real Madrid as he searches for more regular playing time than he was getting under Zinedine Zidane.

However, the Gunners’ transfer business does not look set to end there. 

Lille winger Nicolas Pepe appears to be on the cusp of joining for a whopping €80m (£73m/$89m) despite reported interest from Napoli, Liverpool and Inter.

Arsenal have also been locked in negotiations for Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney, valued by the Scottish champions at over £25m ($30m)

Seeing their first two bids rejected, while a third breakthrough bid could be imminent.

Arsenal’s new defender, William Saliba, has quite the interesting connection to Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe. The young centre-back revealed that he not only knew Mbappe from their school days but also had the pleasure of being coached by Mbappe’s father. This unique bond adds an extra layer of intrigue to the two players’ careers as they continue to make waves in the football world.

Despite his humble beginnings on the estate in Bondy, Saliba speaks highly of the impact it had on his development. Growing up in a tough neighborhood taught him the value of determination and team spirit, qualities that have undoubtedly contributed to his success on the pitch. Playing football with friends on the local pitches fostered a sense of community and shared passion for the sport.

Arsenal’s transfer activity this season has been quite impressive, with Saliba being one of three confirmed signings so far. Alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Dani Ceballos, Saliba adds depth and talent to the Gunners’ squad as they aim to compete at the highest level. The addition of these young prospects bodes well for the future of the club, with fans eagerly anticipating their contributions on the pitch.

Looking ahead, Arsenal’s pursuit of Nicolas Pepe and Kieran Tierney indicates a strong desire to strengthen the team even further. The potential addition of Pepe for a substantial fee demonstrates the club’s ambition to secure top talent, while the ongoing negotiations for Tierney highlight their commitment to bolstering the defensive line. As the transfer window unfolds, Arsenal fans are hopeful for more exciting signings to come.

Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.