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    Riccardo Calafiori joins Arsenal from Bologna as shirt number revealed

    Emma TeeBy No Comments2 Mins Read

    • Arsenal confirm Riccardo Calafiori signing as shirt number revealed

    Riccardo Calafiori joins Arsenal from Bologna as shirt number revealed
    Riccardo Calafiori joins Arsenal from Bologna as shirt number revealed

    Arsenal have confirmed the signing of 22-year-old Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori.

    The Bologna star joins the Gunners ahead of the upcoming 2024/25 campaign and is expected to become a vital part of Mikel Arteta’s backline as the club aims to end their 20-year wait for Premier League silverware. Calafiori will wear the number 33 shirt at the Emirates Stadium.

    Calafiori enjoyed an excellent campaign in Serie A, helping Bologna qualify for the Champions League, and gained real attention after impressing on the international stage with Italy at Euro 2024.

    Reports reveal that Arsenal agreed to a deal with Bologna to sign Calafiori for a fee of €40 million, with €5 million in add-ons. Negotiations were complex, as former club Basel held a 50% sell-on clause, necessitating a profit split between the two sides.

    Calafiori has signed a five-year deal with the Gunners and joins an impressive list of Arsenal defenders. With William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes already established as the team’s first-choice centre-back partnership, Calafiori’s ability to play both in the middle and at left-back aligns with Arteta’s preference for using inverted full-backs.

    The talented player has also shown an ability to step into midfield, advancing with the ball to open up pockets of space.

    Manager Mikel Arteta commented, “We welcome Riccardo and his family to Arsenal. He is a great signing and gives us huge strength to reinforce our defence. Riccardo is a big personality and character, with specific skills that will make us stronger as we push to win major trophies.

    He has already shown great development in recent seasons with his performances for both Bologna and Italy, with his progression and development in the past year being really impressive. We’re looking forward to working with Riccardo, integrating him into the squad, and supporting him in the years to come.”