OFFICIAL NOW: Arsenal officially completes the signing of £80 million European top playmaker after beating Liverpool. His signature, medical this morning, jersey number confirmed – Here we go!

Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta’s leadership, is on the verge of completing the signing of Riccardo Calafiori, a highly esteemed defender from Bologna.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal has initiated another round of discussions with Bologna today to finalize the transfer of Calafiori. Agreements have already been reached between the English club and both the player and the Italian team. The formalities are expected to be completed by next week, solidifying the transfer.

Calafiori’s career has seen a significant upward trajectory over the last year. Having graduated from AS Roma’s academy, he enjoyed a stellar debut season with Bologna upon returning to Serie A. During this period, he played in 33 matches and contributed to seven goals.

His consistent and impressive performances earned him a place in Italy’s squad for Euro 2024. Although Italy did not perform as expected in the tournament, Calafiori stood out with his exceptional defensive skills, attracting the attention of several top European clubs.

After returning from holiday, the 22-year-old defender expressed his desire to move to a bigger club to Bologna’s management. Initially, it was rumored that he preferred to remain in Italy, but Calafiori is now set to join the Premier League’s Arsenal.

Arsenal has been working diligently to secure Calafiori’s signature. They have already agreed on personal terms with the player for a five-year contract and recently finalized an agreement with Bologna. The transfer fee has been set at €40 million, with an additional €5 million in potential add-ons.

Bologna has also secured a sell-on clause for Calafiori, who has three years left on his current contract. While the primary terms are in place, some final details still need to be resolved. Romano reports that both clubs engaged in another round of talks to finalize these aspects.

Arsenal is currently awaiting the agreement between Bologna and Calafiori’s former club, FC Basel, regarding the payment structure of the sell-on clause. The player’s medical examination and final formalities are expected to be completed next week, after which Calafiori will officially sign with Arsenal.