Arsenal Secures Deal for Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori in £42.1m Move

In a significant transfer coup, Arsenal have reached an agreement with Bologna to sign Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori. The deal, reportedly worth £42.1m, marks Arsenal’s first major signing of the summer window and is expected to bolster their defensive lineup.

Calafiori, who impressed at Euro 2024 despite Italy’s early exit, has been a long-term target for the Gunners. The 22-year-old defender is set to sign a long-term contract at the Emirates, with Arsenal paying €40m upfront and €5m in add-ons. Bologna will owe 50 per cent of the profit generated from this transaction to his former club FC Basel.

The move comes after Arsenal acted swiftly to secure Calafiori’s transfer following a collapsed deal with Juventus. Calafiori had initially been keen on joining the Old Lady, but Bologna refused to do business with their Serie A rivals after they poached head coach Thiago Motta.

Calafiori is expected to slot straight into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI at the Emirates after helping Bologna qualify for the Champions League for the first time since the 1960s. He also starred for Italy at Euro 2024, which reportedly convinced Arsenal to make their move.

A left-back by trade, Calafiori spent most of last season at centre-back, but it is expected that he will revert to his old role under Arteta, who is keen on copying his mentor Pep Guardiola by using inverted full-backs.

The deal marks a significant investment for Arsenal, who are looking to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. With the transfer window still open, it remains to be seen if this will be the only major signing for the Gunners this summer.