Riccardo Calafiori, a Serie A defender, had a standout first season with Bologna, making 33 appearances across all competitions and aiding the team in securing a fifth-place finish in Serie A, thereby qualifying for the Champions League.
Calafiori joined Bologna from Swiss club Basel last summer, with a 50% sell-on clause included in the transfer agreement.
Recent reports suggested that Arsenal was close to securing a deal for Calafiori, with expectations that the transfer would be finalized within 24-48 hours. However, Bologna has yet to authorize the move.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reassured Arsenal fans that the deal was still likely, emphasizing Calafiori’s eagerness to join the Premier League club. According to Romano, Calafiori is “obsessed” with the prospect of playing for Arsenal, particularly under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta.
Romano noted on his YouTube channel that Arsenal had reached an agreement with the player, who is very enthusiastic about the club’s project.
During the negotiations, Bologna expressed interest in Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior, but the Polish player was not interested in a move. Romano mentioned on X (formerly Twitter) that while Kiwior could leave Arsenal on loan with a mandatory buy clause, Calafiori remains hopeful of joining the London club.
Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, reported that Calafiori is currently training at his agency’s facilities in preparation for the upcoming season.
The main issue delaying the transfer is the 50% sell-on clause for Basel, with Bologna attempting to negotiate a lower percentage to secure a larger portion of the transfer fee from Arsenal.
Sport Witness indicated that Bologna has been assertive in the negotiations but is facing resistance from Basel, which is reluctant to reduce their share.
Bologna has made it clear that they will only allow Calafiori to leave if their financial demands are met, despite the player’s expressed desire to move to the Emirates Stadium.
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