Official Now 
: Arsenal has finalized a £50 million deal for a superstar, who is set to wear an iconic shirt number. The player will undergo a medical today, with the official announcement imminent.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is on the verge of signing Bologna’s defensive star, Riccardo Calafiori, with the deal set to be finalized next week.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal held fresh talks with Bologna today to finalize the transfer of Riccardo Calafiori. Agreements with both the player and the Italian club have already been reached, and the transfer is expected to be completed after all formal steps are taken next week.
Calafiori has had a remarkable year. The AS Roma academy graduate had an outstanding debut season with Bologna, returning to Serie A and participating in 33 matches while contributing to seven goals.
Thanks to his consistent performances, Calafiori was included in Italy’s squad for Euro 2024. Despite Italy’s underwhelming performance, Calafiori impressed with his exceptional defensive play.
His performances attracted interest from several top European clubs. After returning from holiday, the 22-year-old defender expressed to Bologna’s board his desire to move to a bigger club. Initially, reports indicated he preferred to stay in Italy, but Calafiori is now set to join Premier League giants Arsenal.
Arsenal has been diligently working to secure Calafiori’s services. They agreed on personal terms with the player for a five-year deal and recently struck a deal with Bologna. The North London club will pay €40 million plus an additional €5 million in add-ons for the transfer.
Bologna has secured a sell-on clause for Calafiori, who still has three years remaining on his contract with them. While the main terms are agreed upon, a few final details need to be sorted out. Romano reports that both clubs held another round of talks to finalize the deal.
Arsenal is awaiting an agreement between Bologna and Calafiori’s former club FC Basel regarding the sell-on clause payment structure. The player’s medical and final formalities are expected to be completed next week, after which he will officially sign with Arsenal.