William Saliba returns to Arsenal after Saint-Etienne loan stint

French side Saint-Etienne have formally confirmed that William Saliba will return to Arsenal after the conclusion of his loan stint.

The teenager was signed by the Gunners from the Ligue 1 side last summer, but he was immediately loaned back to the club as part of the agreement.

Saliba made only 17 appearances during an injury-plagued season and he is now expected to rejoin the north London side in preparation for next term.

Saint-Etienne were hopeful of keeping Saliba for the Coupe de France final against Paris Saint-Germain on July 24, but they were unable to reach an agreement.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is said to hold an interest in strengthening the central defensive department ahead of next season and a number of high-profile names have been mentioned.

Saliba has previously been touted to become a regular for the Gunners, but Arteta expressed his doubts earlier this month by stating that the 19-year-old will still need to adapt to the demands of English football.