Arsenal Closing in on Riccardo Calafiori Signing

Riccardo Calafiori during the UEFA EURO 2024 Germany Group B football match between Croatia and Italy in June 2024
Riccardo Calafiori during the UEFA EURO 2024 Germany Group B football match between Croatia and Italy in June 2024. Photo by FRANCESCO FARINA/SPP/Shutterstock (14556427cr)

Arsenal are edging closer to securing the transfer of Italian center-back Riccardo Calafiori, sources from ESPN reported. The Bologna defender is expected to travel to London to complete a medical with Arsenal in the coming days.

The Premier League club is expected to pay a fee in the region of €50 million ($64 million) for the Italian, with a significant portion of the fee set to be paid to the player’s former club Basel due to a sell-on fee built into his contract when he moved to Bologna in 2023.

Capable of playing at both center-back and left-back, Calafiori has become a central player for both Bologna and the Italian national team. He played a critical role in Bologna’s top-four finish in Serie A, securing a spot in this season’s UEFA Champions League. Calafiori played in all three of Italy’s group-stage matches in Euro 2024.

Upon completing his move to Arsenal, Calafiori is expected to represent his new club during their upcoming US pre-season tour. The Gunners are set to face Premier League rivals Manchester United and Liverpool.

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