Arsenal missed deadline for paperwork on William Saliba loan move, claim Saint-Etienne

Saliba came through the ranks at Saint-Etienne before he was snapped up by Arsenal last summer

Arsenal defender William Saliba in training (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal have been accused of collapsing a deal that would have seen defender William Saliba return to Saint-Etienne on loan this season.

Saliba came through the ranks at Saint-Etienne before he was snapped up by Arsenal last summer in a £27m transfer and loaned back to the Ligue 1 club. The 19-year-old Frenchman was expected to be given the opportunity to play for the Gunners this term but has not appeared for Mikel Arteta thus far.

On Tuesday morning following the close of the transfer window, Saint-Etienne released a statement claiming another loan deal had been agreed between the two clubs, only for Arsenal to miss the deadline.

The club’s statement read: “Long before the transfer window closed, AS Saint-Étienne had reached an agreement with William Saliba and accepted Arsenal's offer for a one-season loan. 

"Unfortunately, all the administrative conditions could not be met in time, in England, for the finalisation of the file. The disappointment is great for ASSE and William Saliba, particularly determined to return to the club where he had flourished.”