William Saliba declares he is "very proud" to have joined Marseille as he embarks on his third loan spell away from Arsenal.
Saliba, 20, has sealed a season-long switch to the Ligue 1 club having spent the second half of the 2020/21 campaign with Nice.
The centre-back joined the Gunners in a £27million transfer from Saint-Etienne in 2019 and was immediately loaned back to his native France.
Saliba is yet to make his senior debut for Arsenal and is not yet in the first-team frame under manager Mikel Arteta.
Nonetheless, the youngster is in good spirits having temporarily joined one of the giants of European football.
"I am very proud to join one of the best French clubs," Saliba told Marseille’s official website
"I cannot wait to be on the Orange Velodrome pitch. Where I am from, in Paris, lots of those close to me are for Marseille, I am proud to wear this shirt."
Saliba is reunited with some familiar faces at Marseille, as Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has also joined on loan and France youth international Boubacar Kamara is on the club's books.
The former Saint-Etienne starlet is relishing the prospect of acquainting himself with the rest of the squad, adding: "I know Matteo, Bouba.
"I know them all, but those are who I am the closest with. I cannot wait to be back with my new team-mates so that we can work together.
"When there is competition, that just pushes us to give the best of ourselves."
Jorge Sampaoli played a key role in bringing Saliba to Marseille and the defender explained how he was won over by his new manager's vision.
Saliba said: "We spoke. He wanted me in his team. He explained to me that even though I am a good player now, I had a lot of things to improve.
"With him, I will have ways of progressing… His playing philosophy speaks to me. I can play in a four, on the right or on the left. As long as the team is good, I can play everywhere."
Saliba is clearly happy to be valued by Sampaoli having vented his frustrations with his lack of opportunities under Arteta earlier this year.
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"He (Arteta) judged me on two-and-a-half matches. I would have liked for him to play me more," Saliba told RMC Sport .
"But he told me I wasn’t ready. I was waiting for him to give me a chance, but football is like that."
Saliba made two appearances for Arsenal Under-23 before joining Nice last season, while he represents France at Under-20 level.
