BREAKING NEWS: As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal’s first formal bid of €47 million plus bonuses has been accepted by Bologna for Riccardo Calafiori. It is no secret that adding another defender during the summer transfer window was one of Arsenal’s top goals. Arsenal Riccardo Calafiori gets the green light Signing: €47 million + bonuses! Personal terms already agreed! Bologna accepts the offer! This is a 5-year agreement.

Arsenal are nearing an agreement to meet Bologna’s asking price for their summer target, Riccardo Calafiori. According to Corriere dello Sport, Arsenal have offered €47 million for the Bologna defender, just €3 million short of the €50 million Bologna demands. The small gap suggests a deal will likely be finalized soon.

FootballTransfers revealed that Arsenal initiated talks with Bologna about Calafiori following a recommendation from Jorginho, who urged manager Mikel Arteta to pursue his Italian teammate.

Bologna is firm on their €50 million valuation, and Arsenal’s bid almost matches this amount.

Calafiori is also on the radar of several elite clubs, including Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen, and Juventus.

Juventus had led the chase, agreeing on personal terms with Calafiori, who favored a move to them. However, Bologna is reluctant to sell to a Serie A rival, and Juventus struggles to meet the €50 million price, a challenge Arsenal does not face.

Bologna’s transfer chief, Giovanni Sartori, suggested that Calafiori is more likely to join a Premier League club than move to Juventus. While Bologna prefers to retain Calafiori, they are open to substantial offers from abroad. His former club, Basel, will receive a 40-50% sell-on fee from the transfer.

Calafiori emerged as a standout player during the 2023-24 Serie A season, helping Bologna secure an unexpected Champions League spot. The 22-year-old, originally a left back, was converted to a center back by former Bologna coach Thiago Motta (now at Juventus), and has shown exceptional defensive skills.

Known for his pressing, game-reading, and effective ball usage, Calafiori often supports midfield play.

He is aggressive and strong in the air, and impressed at Euro 2024, particularly with an assist for Mattia Zaccagni’s last-minute equalizer against Croatia.

Calafiori’s anticipated transfer to Arsenal signifies a major advancement in his career, with the Gunners set to enhance their squad with this promising defender.