Canadian midfielder Nathan Saliba expressed his excitement about joining Villarreal in La Liga, as it brings him closer to his aspiration of competing in the Champions League. Saliba was officially presented by Villarreal during a press conference held on Wednesday, marking the beginning of his contract with the club until 2031.
Hailing from Longueuil, Que., Saliba is set to play alongside fellow Canadians Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi at Villarreal, a prominent team in Spanish top-tier soccer. The midfielder emphasized the significance of playing in a top European league, highlighting the dedication and hard work that have led him to this point in his career.
Expressing his eagerness to participate in the Champions League, Saliba mentioned that it is a dream shared by every player, and he views this opportunity as a significant step forward in his professional journey. Prior to his move, Saliba received positive feedback about his new club and surroundings from his Canadian counterparts, who praised the team’s playing style and camaraderie.
Villarreal, which achieved a commendable third-place finish in La Liga last season, has secured a spot in the 2026-27 Champions League league phase set to kick off next month. The club commenced the current La Liga season with two draws and is gearing up to face Deportivo Alaves in the upcoming match.
At 22 years old, Saliba joins Villarreal from Anderlecht in Belgium, where he had a limited number of appearances this season. His previous season with Anderlecht saw him bag three goals in 34 Belgian Pro League matches. Before venturing to Europe, Saliba played for Major League Soccer’s CF Montreal, accumulating 78 appearances between 2023 and 2025 and scoring twice.
Having represented Canada in the recent World Cup, Saliba made a notable contribution by scoring a free kick in his team’s resounding 6-0 victory over Qatar in Vancouver. In a touching gesture, Saliba paid tribute to injured teammate Ismael Kone by displaying his jersey, following Kone’s unfortunate leg injury during the match.