Arsenal are about to conclude the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori, with the Italian international set to become the first signing of the summer at the Emirates Stadium.
Edu masters masterstroke as Arsenal secure Calafiori
This is a major coup for the men in red and white, as they have agreed to a deal in principle with Bologna, Calafiori’s current employers.
Getting into the financial side of the deal, this is a fantastic job from Edu and his team, as they have managed to sign the 22-year-old for an initial €40 million, with an additional €5 million in add-ons. Bologna owes 50 percent of the profit from Calafiori’s sale to his former club, FC Basel.
Italian journalist Romano posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Arsenal and Bologna have reached an agreement for Riccardo Calafiori, after a breakthrough revealed earlier. Understand fee is €40m plus €5m add-ons and sell-on clause. Final step needed: Basel and Bologna to agree to 50% sell-on payment terms, then… here we go!”
Calafiori is Coming
Arsenal were in a stalemate over the fees with Bologna; however, when Riccardo Calafiori arrived from the holidays, he spoke directly with the Italian club’s board about a move to Arsenal. Fabrizio Romano revealed the player’s message:
“Riccardo Calafiori, in the last 24-48 hours, when he returned from holidays, spoke directly with the Bologna board, ‘Please, let me fulfill my dream and let me go to Arsenal. I want to go to Arsenal’. This was the message from Calafiori.”
The Italian defender is expected to slot right into Arsenal’s starting eleven after helping Bologna qualify for Champions League football for the first time since 1960. He replicated his domestic performances on a global scale as he continued to impress for Italy at the recently concluded EURO 2024.
Although Calafiori spent the majority of last season in the centre-back role, he is expected to slot in the left-back position at Arsenal.
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