Arsenal have reached an agreement with Bologna to sign of Riccardo Calafiori, according to reports.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a superb season at club level, helping Bologna qualify for the Champions League, but it was his success with Italy at Euro 2024 that catapulted him into the limelight.
The Italian’s value has soared thanks to his performances, ensuring Bologna will make a huge profit – despite former club Basel having a 50% sell-on clause – on the £3.4m they made last year.
Talks with Arsenal – the club who will be front-runners to sign Calafiori – for more than €50m (£42m) have dragged on for several weeks, with both sides looking to negotiate a payment structure that suits their needs. best.
Bologna were understood to be holding €45 million plus €5 million in add-ons, including a high upfront fee – something Arsenal wanted to waive and include additional clauses and future incentives.
Athletic first reported that Arsenal are ‘accelerating’ their efforts to sign Calafiori and want to complete a deal for the versatile defender ‘as soon as possible’, knowing that other top clubs want to sign players with a similar profile.
Fabrizio Romano he has now revealed that a deal has been reached, which will see Arsenal pay a guaranteed fee of €40m (£33.7m), €5m in add-ons and include a sell-on clause.
Listen to Chronicles of a Gooner – Arsenal podcast – as Harry Symeou discusses the possible arrival of Riccardo Calafiori at the Emirates Stadium.
Calafiori, who has been asked to attend pre-season training by Bologna as the deal continues to be finalised, has already agreed a five-year deal, ticking all the boxes Arsenal want in a potential new recruit. .
The Gunners have established William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes as their first centre-back partnership, but Calafiori’s ability to play centrally or at left-back matches Mikel Arteta’s penchant for playing inverted full-backs – a staple of many top teams. at club and international level.
Calafiori also showed at Euro 2024 a willingness to get into midfield and develop with the ball, opening up pockets of space for Italy’s forwards to exploit, and his good aim while in possession was widely praised by commentators.
Should Arsenal do a deal, the club are likely to look to continue with one of their current options for defenders – Jakub Kiwior is the player who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium so far.
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