Football transfer roundup: William Saliba signs long-term deal at Arsenal, PSG swoop for Ugarte

William Saliba has committed his future to Arsenal after signing a new long-term deal with the Gunners on Friday. The French centre-back, who was an integral part of Arsenal’s unexpected challenge for the Premier League title last season, has reportedly agreed a four-year deal worth £10 million ($13 million) a season. Indeed, it was a back injury to the 22-year-old that played a major role in a dip in form for Mikel Arteta’s men towards the end of the campaign that allowed Manchester City to retain their title. “To have William extend his contract with us was something we have wanted to do for a long time,” said Arteta. “William proved last season just how good and how important he is to our squad. “The ability he has at his young age of just 22 is exciting, and there is of course so much more room for development with any player at this stage of their career.” Saliba had just one year left on the contract he signed when joining from Saint-Etienne in 2019 for £27 million. However, he spent most of the next three seasons back in France on loan spells to Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille. His form at Marseille earned him international recognition with France for the first time and he was part of the squad that reached the World Cup final last year in Qatar. Saliba follows teammates Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Aaron Ramsdale in recently signing new deals. Arsenal are also reportedly close to strengthening their squad significantly in a bid to become champions of England for the first time in 20 years. Kai Havertz has already joined from Chelsea in a £65 million deal with moves for Declan Rice from West Ham and Ajax’s Jurrien Timber also close to completion. PSG sign Ugarte to boost midfield Paris Saint-Germain on Friday completed the signing of Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Portuguese club Sporting following the arrivals this week of Milan Skriniar and Marco Asensio. Ugarte, 22, has signed a five-year deal with the French champions who paid a transfer fee of 60 million euros ($65.3 million) to ward off reported interest from Chelsea. The defensive midfielder began his career with Fenix in Montevideo before moving to Portugal to join Famalicao. He was soon snapped up by Sporting and spent the past two seasons with them. Ugarte was an unused member of the Uruguay squad at last year’s World Cup. He is PSG’s third recruit of the summer after Skriniar and Asensio signed on free transfers. France’s 2018 World Cup-winning defender Lucas Hernandez is also expected to arrive as new coach Luis Enrique looks to strengthen his team. However, there remain ongoing questions about the future of Kylian Mbappe, who said last month that he would not extend his contract, which expires next year. If there is no change to his stance the club must sell the player in the current transfer window, otherwise they will likely lose him for nothing when his deal ends. Gagliardini signs for Monza as free agent Roberto Gagliardini has signed for Monza after being released by Inter Milan, the Serie A club announced on Friday. In a statement Monza said that the 29-year-old has signed one-year deal with an option to renew should unspecified conditions be met. Gagliardini leaves Inter after six largely underwhelming years at the San Siro as the midfielder failed to live up to early promise shown at his boyhood club Atalanta. He has played seven times for Italy but last featured for his country in 2020. Monza finished 11th in Serie A last season, their first ever in Italy’s top flight, but the recent death of Silvio Berlusconi has led to speculation that family holding company Fininvest could sell the club. Former Italian prime minister and media mogul Berlusconi bought Monza through Fininvest in 2018. Danish forward Dolberg joins Anderlecht Danish international forward Kasper Dolberg has left Nice to join Belgian club Anderlecht on a four-year deal, the two clubs announced Friday. The 25-year-old touched down in Nice from Ajax in August 2019 in a 20.5-million-euro deal. After 11 goals in 23 Ligue 1 matches in his first season, Dolberg had two tougher seasons and was last year loaned out to Sevilla from July to December before a second loan to Hoffenheim for the remainder of the season.