Premier League giants Arsenal have officially announced the signing of Italy international Riccardo Calafiori on a permanent transfer from Bologna.
The 22-year-old joins the Gunners in a permanent deal for a reported fee of just under €50m (£42m) including add-ons. He has reportedly signed a five-year contract, running until the summer of 2029, with a wage packet of around €4m per season.
Calafiori spent the 2023-24 season back in Serie A with Bologna, where he helped the Rossoblu return to the Champions League for the first time in over 60 years.
He also started in all but one of Italy’s matches at EURO 2024 this summer after impressing CT Luciano Spalletti over the course of the season.
The former Roma youngster arrived in the UK for his medical on Saturday morning, and has since flown out to the United States to join up with his new teammates and coach Mikel Arteta at the team’s pre-season camp.
Bolstering the backline ✍️ pic.twitter.com/PaURTwJbci
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 29, 2024
What Arsenal said about Calafiori
“It has been a great team effort in completing this transfer and we welcome Riccardo to the family,” Arsenal sporting director Edu said in a statement on the club website.
“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.”
Click here to read what Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta had to say about Calafiori
Calafiori joins Arsenal after 12 months with Bologna. The Rossoblu had paid a fee of a fee of around €4m to bring him back from Basel in the Swiss Super League this time last summer.
Calafiori had grown up playing in the youth ranks for Roma, making his senior debut for the club in 2020. The Giallorossi are also set to receive a cut of Bologna’s transfer fee from Arsenal.
Calafiori joins fellow Azzurri international Jorginho at the Emirates, and is also a stone’s throw away from Italy colleagues Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie at Tottenham.
Making us stronger 💪
All the lowdown on our Riccardo Calafiori signing 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 29, 2024
Well. At least it will help his development to learn how to lose.