Arsenal Set to Sign Riccardo Calafiori After Reaching Agreement with Bologna

Arsenal and Bologna have reportedly reached an agreement on a $49 million transfer fee for defender Riccardo Calafiori, according to football insider Fabrizio Romano. The deal includes $5.4 million in add-ons and a sell-on clause, marking a significant acquisition for the Gunners.

The final step before Calafiori can formally join Arsenal is for Basel and Bologna to agree on the 50% sell-on payment terms. The Athletic’s David Ornstein previously revealed that Arsenal was “accelerating” its efforts to finalize the deal, emphasizing the club’s urgency to secure the defender.

Arsenal to Sign Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for $49 Million

Arsenal is set to sign defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna after agreeing on a $49 million transfer fee, including $5.4 million in add-ons and a sell-on clause. The final step is negotiating the 50 percent… pic.twitter.com/2OxpN45ctY

— Freedom Square News (@Freedom_Square_) July 21, 2024

Calafiori, 22, moved to Basel in August 2022 after spending four years in Serie A with Roma. He joined Bologna last August and has since made a substantial impact. However, according to Samuel Meade of The Mirror, Bologna was threatening to back out of the agreement with Arsenal due to Basel’s reluctance to pay the full 50% of the purchase price originally due for Calafiori.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, values positional flexibility in his squad, a strategy influenced by his time at Manchester City, where the use of four center-backs in defense proved successful. Calafiori’s ability to play both left-back and center-back fits this approach perfectly.

• Allisha Gray Wins Big at WNBA All-Star Weekend
• Judd Trump Triumphs Over Ronnie O’Sullivan to Reach Shanghai Masters Final; Snooker Legend Ray Reardon Dies at 91
• Enugu Catholic priest flogs choir members
• Nigeria, UAE Reach Agreement to Resume Visa Issuance for Nigerian Passport Holders

With the addition of Calafiori, Arteta will have another potential starting option at left-back alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jurriën Timber. Timber is still recovering from an ACL injury sustained last August and only returned to action in the final Premier League match of the season. Calafiori could also serve as a rotation option at center-back, complementing the established partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba.

During the 2023-24 Serie A season, Calafiori made 30 appearances for Bologna, scoring two goals and providing five assists. His performances were instrumental in helping the club qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1964.

• I Didn’t Reach Agreement With Tinubu On S’Court Verdict – Kwankwaso
• The dream of the present Management is skills acquisition — ESUT VC
• FG approves Acquisition of Attack Helicopters for Nigerian Army
• Arsenal Beat Wolves 2-0 to Return to the Top of the Premier League
• Arsenal beat Man City to win Community Shield trophy

Arsenal finished second to Manchester City in the 2023-24 Premier League standings and reached the Champions League round of 16, where they were narrowly defeated 3-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich.

The Gunners are set to open the 2024-25 Premier League season on August 17 against Wolves. Depending on how swiftly the final hurdles are cleared, Calafiori could make his debut in a Gunners jersey for that match.