Arsenal are set to receive over £4 million in compensation from FIFA after defender William Saliba suffered a back injury during the 2026 World Cup. The 24-year-old was forced off after 30 minutes in France's 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain on Tuesday and could be sidelined for up to five months, potentially requiring surgery.
Injury Details and Recovery Timeline
Saliba had been playing through pain since March, but the issue became unbearable during the match. France manager Didier Deschamps confirmed: "William Saliba got injured and it's problematic. He went through some examinations. The injury did not worsen. He faced that injury since March. He had some pain and unfortunately the pain was not bearable." Arsenal have not provided a recovery timeframe, but reports suggest Saliba may be unavailable until mid-November at the earliest.
FIFA Club Protection Programme
Since 2012, FIFA's Club Protection Programme has compensated clubs for player wages when injuries occur on international duty. To qualify, the player must be sidelined for at least 28 consecutive days, and the injury must result from an "accident." Given Saliba's expected four- to five-month absence and the injury's aggravation during the World Cup, Arsenal are well-positioned to claim. Saliba earns approximately £250,000 per week, meaning the club could recoup at least £4 million.
Impact on Arsenal's Transfer Plans
While the compensation eases the financial burden, Arsenal may still seek a replacement. Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa has been linked as a summer target after impressing for England at the World Cup, but Villa values the 28-year-old at over £50 million and is reluctant to sell. It remains unclear whether Arsenal will pursue a short-term stand-in or a long-term option like Konsa, who can also play right-back.
