Riccardo Calafiore: Arsenal full £42m deal to signal Bologna defender Soccer Information

Arsenal have signed defender Ricardo Calafiore from Bologna for £42m.

The 22-year-old, who can play at centre-back or left-back, has signed a five-year contract with the Gunners till 2029, additional strengthening a Gunners defensive unit that has conceded simply 29 targets within the league ball and stored 18 clear sheets.

sky sports activities information It’s understood that one other Premier League membership, in addition to Juventus and Actual Madrid, try to signal the Italy worldwide this month. There have been affords from different golf equipment up to now two weeks, however Calafiore solely desires a transfer to Arsenal and a dedication that he’ll be part of Mikel Arteta’s facet.

Arsenal are understood to be impressed by his need to affix the membership – a need that was bolstered throughout conversations with supervisor Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu.

Calafiore turns into Arsenal’s second main signing of the summer time, following the arrival of goalkeeper David Raya for £27m.

Calafiore’s consultant, Alessandro Lucci from World Soccer, has been working with each golf equipment over the previous month to make sure the deal could be accomplished.

Bologna purchased Calafioli from Swiss membership Basel final summer time for €4m (£3.4m), with Basel receiving 50% of Bologna’s income from the deal.

One among Europe’s best-rated defenders final season, Calafiore shone at Euro 2024 and regardless of Italy’s early exit in Germany, he suffered a suspended harm within the then-defending champions’ last-16 loss to Switzerland. Missed the sport.

“Nice persona and character”

After signing Calafio, Arsenal coach Arteta mentioned: “We welcome Ricardo and his household to Arsenal. He is a good signing and offers us nice energy to strengthen our group. protection.

“Ricardo is a person of nice character and character, with particular abilities that may make us even stronger in our quest to win vital trophies. His performances in current seasons in Bologna and Italy have proven He has made large progress, and his progress and improvement in Italy have additionally made us stronger.

“We look ahead to working with Ricciardo, integrating him into the squad and supporting him within the coming years.”

What function will Calafiore play at Arsenal?

The query now’s the place Calafiore will slot in at Arsenal. Changing Arsenal’s first-choice centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, who’ve made 79 appearances between them over the previous two seasons, has confirmed troublesome.

Arsenal’s protection was additionally the worst within the Premier League final season, conceding solely 29 targets. Nonetheless, whereas Ben White, Gabriel and Saliba are the mainstays of the defence, the left-back place is an space that may require summer time surgical procedure.

Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu all didn’t fill the function constantly final season after beginning within the function final season. The character’s Jurrien Timber has simply returned from a severe knee harm.

So, is left-back Calafiore the most suitable choice to assert a spot at Arsenal right away if the transfer occurs?

Arteta continues to strengthen protection

Arsenal set a Premier League membership scoring document final season with 91 targets. The Gunners solely conceded 29 targets, 5 fewer than Manchester Metropolis. No group has come near maintaining 18 clear sheets.

Their excellent defensive efficiency was the fruits of a rigorously orchestrated technique from Mikel Arteta, who has constructed this Arsenal facet from again to entrance. Strengthening their base has at all times been their precedence and their take care of Calafio continues that.

Together with him, 18 of the 24 gamers launched to the Arsenal first group below Arteta are goalkeepers, defenders or defensive midfielders, with a complete price of 488 million kilos. That is greater than double what they spent on six attacking midfielders or forwards.

In a deal value as much as £42 million, Calafio will develop into the sixth most costly signing since Arteta took over, making certain that 5 of the primary seven gamers will probably be defensive gamers, with the value Headed by £105m Declan Rice, the one two attackers are Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Arteta admits that title wins are constructed on defence, and continues to construct his squad accordingly.

Who else does Arsenal wish to signal this summer time?

as well as Calafioli, David Raya A everlasting transfer has been accomplished, however an offensive addition can’t be dominated out if Aidien Ketia and Emile Smith Rowe Preserve going as anticipated.

Arsenal pre-season schedule

• July 20: Arsenal 2-0 Leyton Orient
• July 25: Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth
• July 28: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United
• August 1: Arsenal vs Liverpool – Lincoln Monetary Subject, Philadelphia, kick-off 12.30am
• August 7: Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 6pm
• August 11: Arsenal vs Lyon, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 2pm

When does the summer time switch window open and shut?

this 2024 summer time switch window The Premier League will formally finish at 11pm UK time on August 30, and the Scottish League will formally finish at 11:30pm.

The Premier League has introduced ahead its deadline to hyperlink up with different main European leagues. The deadline was decided following discussions with leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.