Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for a fee reported to be in the region of £42m (€49m).
The deal was slowed down due to sell-on clauses that both of his former clubs, Roma and Basel, were entitled to, but Mikel Arteta has finally landed his top defensive target.
Calafiori has signed an five-year contract at the Emirates Stadium, and becomes his fourth signing of the summer, after David Raya’s loan was made permanent and academy keepers Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygard were acquired.
The 22-year-old was a standout performer in Italy’s otherwise disappointing EURO 2024 campaign, starting all four games and becoming the country’s second youngest player in the competition after Paolo Maldini. He had only made his international debut 11 days prior to the Azzuri’s kick-off.
Capable of playing at both centre-back and left-back, Calafiori was a key man in Bologna’s remarkable qualification for the Champions League last season.
He will provide competition to William Saliba and Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence as they look to win a first league title since 2004 after coming so close last time around.
Arsenal,Mikel Arteta,Riccardo Calafiori,Bologna,Paolo Maldini,Lucas Nygard,Italy,William Saliba,David Raya
