DONE DEAL: “CELEBRATIONS AT THE EMIRATES” Following the signings of David Raya and Tommy Setford, Arsenal has officially confirmed their third summer signing, valued at £33.3 million.

Riccardo Calafiori has officially joined Arsenal after weeks of speculation regarding the Italian international’s move to the club.

The announcement confirms that Calafiori has signed a five-year contract with Arsenal, transferring from Bologna for an initial fee of £33.7 million, which could increase to £42 million with various add-ons.

At just 22 years old, Calafiori can operate both as a left-back and a left-sided centre-back. His performances last season were pivotal in helping Bologna secure a fifth-place finish in Serie A, which earned the club a spot in the Champions League.

Following his success with Bologna, he also represented Italy in the Euro 2024 tournament, although the campaign was disappointing for the Azzurri.

Immediately after finalizing his deal, Calafiori wasted no time in integrating himself into the Arsenal squad. After completing a medical examination in London over the weekend, he flew to the United States to join his new teammates.

He has already participated in training sessions in Philadelphia, where Arsenal has moved for the next leg of their US tour after previously being in Los Angeles.

Arsenal has one remaining match in the United States before heading back to England, where they will face Liverpool on Wednesday, which will take place in the early hours of Thursday morning UK time. It remains to be seen when Calafiori will make his debut for the Gunners.

There is a possibility that he could play in the upcoming match against Liverpool; however, given that he has only trained with his new teammates once or twice prior to the game, it is more likely that he will start from the bench.

If Calafiori does not feature in the Liverpool match, he may have the opportunity to make his home debut against Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium on August 7.

Following that match, Arsenal will also host Lyon on August 13. The upcoming games present an exciting chance for Calafiori to showcase his talents and begin his journey with Arsenal in front of the home fans.

As the season approaches, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how the young defender will adapt to his new surroundings and contribute to the team’s ambitions.