Villarreal has finalized the signing of Canadian midfielder Nathan Saliba for a fee of €15 million from Anderlecht. This move comes as the Castellon team sought to strengthen their midfield following the departure of Dani Parejo.

Saliba's Arrival

The 22-year-old Saliba is set to travel to Spain shortly to undergo a medical examination before officially joining the squad under the guidance of coach Íñigo Pérez. His signing marks the conclusion of Villarreal's search for a central midfielder, with Saliba emerging as a top priority for the club's management in recent days.

Performance and Potential

Saliba arrives at Villarreal after a productive season in Belgium, where he made 50 appearances for Anderlecht, scoring five goals and providing two assists since his transfer from CF Montreal in the summer of 2025. In the current Belgian league season, he played 34 matches, netting three goals and contributing one assist. Standing at 1.73 meters, Saliba primarily plays as a midfielder but is also capable of taking on more advanced positions.

His addition enhances the midfield options available to Pérez, who already has players like Pape Gueye, Santi Comesaña, and promising talents Alassane Diatta and Carlos Macià. Saliba will also join fellow Canadians Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi in the squad, bringing his experience of 17 caps for Canada, including three matches in this summer's World Cup.

Anderlecht's Investment

Anderlecht has effectively multiplied their investment in Saliba, having acquired him from CF Montreal just 14 months ago. His market value had risen to €7.5 million, and Villarreal's decision to pay €15 million reflects their confidence in his abilities to fill the void left by Parejo.