Arsenal in Advanced Talks to Secure Calafiori from Bologna

Arsenal Football Club is reportedly on the verge of finalizing a transfer deal for Riccardo Calafiori, a promising 22-year-old defender currently at Bologna. The expected financial terms of the transfer are said to total approximately £42.1 million, a fee Bologna has been actively pursuing in negotiations.

According to sources from Sky Italy, discussions regarding the payment structure and additional clauses are ongoing, although both clubs have reached an agreement on several key points of the potential sale. While the deal is not yet officially completed, it appears to be in its final stages.

Personal terms for Calafiori are anticipated to align without complications. An interesting aspect of this transfer is that Calafiori’s previous club, Basel, stands to gain 50 percent of Bologna’s profits from any transfer involving the defender.

In recent days, there has been significant interest in Calafiori, as Sky Sports News has indicated that other Premier League clubs, alongside prominent teams like Juventus and Real Madrid, have expressed intentions to secure his services. However, the young Italian has reportedly indicated a strong preference for Arsenal, reaffirming his commitment to join the club.

The negotiations were facilitated by Calafiori’s representative, Alessandro Lucci, who operates through the World Soccer Agency. Lucci has been collaborating closely with both clubs over the past month to ensure the deal comes to fruition.

Last summer, Bologna acquired Calafiori for €4 million, equating to approximately £3.4 million, making this upcoming transfer a considerable profit for the Italian club.

Gianluca Di Marzio, a journalist from Sky Italy, has recently shared insights indicating that Calafiori is eager to make the move to Arsenal. His performance during Euro 2024 further emphasized his capabilities, even as Italy faced an early exit from the tournament in Germany. Calafiori’s absence due to suspension was felt acutely during Italy’s last-16 match against Switzerland, where they suffered elimination.

The left-back position has been a concern for Arsenal, especially considering Oleksandr Zinchenko’s underwhelming form in the previous season. In addition to the potential signing of Calafiori, Arsenal has also secured the permanent signing of goalkeeper David Raya. The club may also pursue further attacking additions should there be departures involving key players like Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe.

The upcoming transfer window for the Premier League is set to close on August 30 at 11pm UK time. Notably, this year’s transfer deadline day has been synchronized with the closing dates of several major football leagues across Europe, following discussions among the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France.