Riccardo Calafiori Joins Arsenal from Bologna

Riccardo Calafiori has signed with Arsenal from Bologna for up to £42 million including add-ons. The 22-year-old, who played in Italy’s three group games at Euro 2024, agreed to a five-year contract with Mikel Arteta’s team and subsequently joined them in Philadelphia. Calafiori expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m really happy to be here. I waited a lot. I hope we are going to do something great this season.”

He spent one season at Bologna, featuring in 30 Serie A matches, scoring two goals and recording five assists, thereby helping the team secure a Champions League spot with a fifth-place finish. Notably, Calafiori is capable of playing as a central defender or left-back and he has also played on the left wing. Arteta praised him as a “great signing,” highlighting his personality, character, and specific skills that will strengthen Arsenal.

Additionally, he noted Calafiori’s impressive development at Bologna and with Italy, emphasizing the defender’s significant progress in the past year. Arteta looks forward to integrating Calafiori into the squad and supporting his continued growth. Furthermore, Serie A named Calafiori player of the month in May, and he earned five senior Italy caps this summer.

He debuted for Roma in 2020 and had a loan spell at Genoa before joining Basel in 2022. After a season in Switzerland, he moved to Bologna for £3.3 million. Initially a left-back, he transitioned to central defense under Bologna coach Thiago Motta, who has since moved to Juventus. Although Juventus and Chelsea showed interest in Riccardo Calafiori, he ultimately joined Arsenal.

At Arsenal, he could compete with Gabriel or Oleksandr Zinchenko for playing time. As Arsenal aims to challenge for their first Premier League title in 21 years after finishing second in consecutive seasons, they also plan to sell midfielder Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham for an initial £27 million with potential add-ons of £7 million.