Canadian midfielder Nathan Saliba expressed his excitement about his move to La Liga outfit Villarreal, seeing it as a step closer to his aspiration of competing in the prestigious Champions League. Saliba was officially unveiled by Villarreal at a press event on Wednesday following the completion of a deal keeping him at the club until 2031.
Hailing from Longueuil, Quebec, Saliba is set to join forces with compatriots Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi at Villarreal, a prominent team in Spanish football’s top division. Delighted about the opportunity to play in a top-tier European league, Saliba attributed his achievement to hard work and dedication to his development, emphasizing that playing in the Champions League has been a lifelong dream.
Saliba shared that he received positive feedback about his new club and the city from his fellow Canadians, who highlighted the team’s camaraderie and passion for the game. Villarreal concluded the previous La Liga season in third place and secured a spot in the upcoming 2026-27 Champions League group stage, commencing next month.
Having begun the current La Liga campaign with two draws, Villarreal is gearing up to face Deportivo Alaves in their upcoming fixture. The 22-year-old midfielder makes the switch to Villarreal from Belgian side Anderlecht, where he featured twice this season and netted three goals in 34 appearances in the Belgian Pro League last season.
Prior to his European venture, Saliba amassed 78 appearances for Major League Soccer’s CF Montreal from 2023 to 2025, registering two goals. Notably, Saliba represented Canada in the recent World Cup, scoring a remarkable free kick in Canada’s 6-0 victory over Qatar. In a touching gesture, he honored his injured teammate Ismael Kone by displaying Kone’s jersey after the goal, following Kone’s unfortunate injury during the match.