Arsenal have announced the signing of Italian international defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.
The 22-year-old joins the Gunners on a five-year contract for a reported fee of €45 million, fending off competition from several top European clubs.
Calafiori, a product of Roma‘s renowned youth academy, has already made a significant impact in Serie A and on the international stage. His performances for Italy in EURO 2024 further solidified his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising defensive talents.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, said: “We welcome Riccardo and his family to Arsenal. He is a great signing and gives us huge strength to reinforce our defence.
“Riccardo is a big personality and character, with specific skills which will make us stronger as we push to win major trophies. He has already shown great development in recent seasons with his performances for both Bologna and Italy, with his progression and development in the past year being really impressive.
“We’re looking forward to working with Riccardo, integrating him into the squad, and supporting him in the years to come.”
Edu, Arsenal Sporting Director, added: “It has been a great team effort in completing this transfer and we welcome Riccardo to the family.
“We identified Riccardo as part of our strategy to sign players who fit our profile and will reinforce our squad to compete at the highest level. He is 22 but brings quality and experience. He will quickly grow into being an Arsenal player.
“Riccardo has consistently shown his quality for his club and country. He was one of the best players in Serie A last season, and gave strong performances for Italy in the Euros this summer. Mikel and our coaches are excited to start working with Riccardo, and we all look forward to seeing him in our shirt.”
Riccardo Calafiori expressed his excitement about joining Arsenal: “Of course I’m really happy to be here. I waited a lot. I hope we are going to do something great this year!”
Calafiori’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium is seen as a major coup for Arsenal, who beat out the likes of Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atletico Madrid for his signature. The Gunners’ determination and financial commitment proved decisive in securing the deal.
The transfer has also sparked a financial dispute involving Bologna, Basel (Calafiori’s former club), and Roma (his youth club). Bologna’s sale triggers a complex sell-on clause, with Basel entitled to 50% of the transfer profit. Additionally, Roma claims a 40% stake in Basel’s share, leading to potential legal action.
Despite the financial complexities, Calafiori’s move to Arsenal is now complete. The young defender is eager to work under Mikel Arteta and contribute to the club’s success in the upcoming Premier League season.