Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is poised to finalize the signing of Bologna’s highly-regarded defender Riccardo Calafiori next week.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal has conducted a new round of talks with Bologna today to seal the deal for Calafiori. Both the player and the Italian club have already reached agreements with the Gunners. All formalities are expected to be completed by next week, finalizing the transfer.
Calafiori has experienced a remarkable rise over the past year. After returning to Serie A, the AS Roma academy graduate had a fantastic debut season with Bologna. He featured in 33 matches, contributing to seven goals.
He was selected for the Italian squad for Euro 2024 as a result of his steady performances. Although the Azzurri did not meet expectations, Calafiori made a significant impact with his exceptional defensive displays. Several elite clubs in Europe expressed interest in this.
The 22-year-old defender told the Bologna board up front that he was eager to join a larger team after returning from vacation. Initial reports suggested he preferred to stay in Italy, but Calafiori is now set to join Premier League giants Arsenal.
The Gunners have been working diligently to secure Calafiori’s services. They recently signed a contract with Bologna and had previously reached a personal terms agreement with the player for a five-year contract. Arsenal has agreed to pay €40 million plus an additional €5 million in add-ons for the transfer.
Bologna secured a sell-on clause for Calafiori, who still has three years remaining on his contract. 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.
Arsenal is waiting for Bologna and Calafiori’s former club, FC Basel, to agree on the sell-on clause payment structure. Next week is anticipated to see the completion of the player’s medical and last-minute paperwork, following which Calafiori will formally sign with Arsenal.
