Arsenal has signed Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for a fee that could rise to £42 million, including add-ons. The 22-year-old, who played in all three of Italy’s group matches at Euro 2024, has penned a five-year contract with Mikel Arteta’s squad and has immediately joined his teammates in Philadelphia.
“I’m really happy to be here,” Calafiori expressed. “I waited a lot. I hope we are going to do something great this season.”
Calafiori, who spent last season with Bologna, is versatile and can play as a central defender, left-back, or even on the left wing. He made 30 appearances in Serie A last season, scoring two goals and providing five assists, contributing to Bologna’s fifth-place finish, which secured a Champions League spot.
Arteta praised the signing, stating, “Riccardo is a big personality and character, with specific skills that will make us stronger as we push to win major trophies. He has already demonstrated great development in recent seasons with his performances for both Bologna and Italy, showcasing impressive progress over the past year. We’re looking forward to integrating him into the squad and supporting him in the years to come.”
In addition, Calafiori was named Serie A’s Player of the Month in May and earned all five of his senior caps for Italy this summer. He began his professional career at Roma in 2020, went on loan to Genoa, and then joined Basel in 2022 before his move to Bologna for £3.3 million.
While he started as a left-back, Calafiori mainly played as a central defender under Bologna’s former boss, Thiago Motta, who has since left for Juventus, a club that, along with Chelsea, was also linked with his services.
At Arsenal, Calafiori is expected to compete for a starting position with Gabriel and Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Gunners are aiming for their first Premier League title in 21 years after finishing second in the league for the last two seasons.
Additionally, Arsenal is set to sell midfielder Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham, with an initial fee of £27 million and potential add-ons of £7 million.
Credit: BBC Sport
