Arsenal on cusp of Riccardo Calafiori signing with defender set for ...
All agreements are now in place for Arsenal to sign Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori.
The Italy international must still undergo medical checks and put pen to paper — however the deal itself is essentially done and if everything goes to plan, the 22-year-old can be expected to join Arsenal’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Having began his career as a left-back but more recently impressed at centre-back, Calafiori was a transfer priority for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
The Athletic reported last week that Arsenal the club were accelerating efforts to complete the acquisition.
Calafiori’s former side Basel are entitled to a sell-on clause of between 40 and 50 per cent, which they negotiated in his 2023 switch to Bologna.
A key player as the Serie A team secured a top-five finish last season and achieved Champions League qualification for the first time in six decades, Calafiori’s form earned a call-up by Italy.
GO DEEPER
Riccardo Calafiori, an Italian centre-back in name, hair and pedigree
He shone in their Euro 2024 campaign, starting all three group-stage matches, but missed the last-16 loss to Switzerland through suspension.
Calafiori will become the first addition to Arteta’s squad this summer and follows goalkeeper David Raya’s loan from Brentford turning permanent.
Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares both left Arsenal at the end of their contracts, while Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares moved to Sevilla and Lazio respectively on a temporary basis.
GO DEEPER
Calafiori is a front-foot, modern-day defender - and would suit Arteta's Arsenal
(Claudio Villa/Getty Images for FIGC)
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David Ornstein joined The Athletic in October 2019 after 12 years as a sports journalist and correspondent at the BBC. In the role of Football Correspondent, he is responsible for producing exclusive and original stories and interviews, offering unique insight and analysis. He works across video, audio and the written word. Follow David on Twitter @David_Ornstein
