Canadian midfielder Nathan Saliba expressed his excitement about joining La Liga’s Villarreal as a significant step towards achieving his dream of competing in the Champions League. Saliba was formally introduced by Villarreal during a press conference held on Wednesday, where it was announced that he had signed a contract with the club until 2031.
Hailing from Longueuil, Quebec, Saliba is eager to play alongside his compatriots Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi at Villarreal, a prominent Spanish top-tier soccer club. Delighted about the opportunity to compete in a top European league, Saliba emphasized the importance of hard work and dedication in his career development, highlighting his aspiration to participate in the prestigious Champions League.
Saliba shared that he received positive feedback about his new club and city from other Canadian players. He mentioned that they spoke highly of the team, the city, the club’s culture, and the expectations associated with playing for Villarreal. Excited to immerse himself in the squad and their football philosophy, Saliba is looking forward to further exploring his new surroundings.
Villarreal, having secured a third-place finish in La Liga last season, earned qualification for the 2026-27 Champions League league phase, set to commence next month. The club kicked off the current La Liga season with two draws and is gearing up to face Deportivo Alaves in their upcoming match on Friday.
At 22 years old, Saliba joins Villarreal from Anderlecht in Belgium, where he made two appearances this season. During his previous season with Anderlecht, Saliba netted three goals in 34 matches in the Belgian Pro League. Prior to his European venture, Saliba showcased his skills in Major League Soccer with CF Montreal, accumulating 78 appearances and scoring twice from 2023 to 2025.
Having represented Canada at the recent World Cup, Saliba made a memorable impact by scoring a free kick in Canada’s 6-0 victory over Qatar in Vancouver on June 18. In a touching gesture, Saliba paid tribute to his injured teammate Ismael Kone by displaying Kone’s jersey after scoring the goal, following a serious leg injury sustained by Kone during the match due to a reckless tackle by Qatar’s Assim Madibo.