Riccardo Calafiori, Bologna’s star defensive player, is close to joining Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal; the deal is anticipated to be completed the following week.
Arsenal and Bologna held new talks today in an attempt to finalize Riccardo Calafiori’s transfer, according to Fabrizio Romano. Both the player and the Italian club have already reached agreements with the Gunners. Next week, the transfer ought to be finalized after all official procedures.
The last year has seen a notable increase in Calafiori. After returning to Serie A, the AS Roma academy graduate had an incredible first season with Bologna. He took part in 33 games and assisted on seven goals.
Calafiori’s consistent performances earned him a spot in Italy’s squad for the 2024 European Championship. In spite of the Azzurri’s lackluster performance, Calafiori left a lasting impression thanks to his superb defensive work.
Many elite European clubs expressed interest in his performances. The 22-year-old defender told the Bologna board that he wanted to join a bigger team after returning from vacation. Calafiori is now expected to sign with Premier League powerhouse Arsenal, despite early reports suggesting he would have preferred to remain in Italy.
Calafiori’s services have been sought after by Arsenal with great diligence. They recently signed a contract with Bologna and had previously reached a personal terms agreement with the player for a five-year contract. For the transfer, the North London club has agreed to pay €40 million plus an extra €5 million in add-ons.
Calafiori has three years left on his contract with Bologna, but they have secured a sell-on clause for him. A few last details still need to be worked out, even though the main terms have been agreed upon. To seal the deal, Romano claims that both clubs had additional negotiations.
The Gunners are awaiting a deal on the pay schedule for the sell-on clause between Bologna and FC Basel, Calafiori’s previous team. Next week is anticipated to see the completion of the player’s medical and last-minute paperwork, following which he will formally sign with Arsenal.
