Arsenal announce signing of Euro 2024 star Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for £38m, beating rivals to signing

Riccardo Calafiori has finally been announced as an Arsenal player after protracted negotiations with Bologna.

talkSPORT understands that the Gunners have shelled out an initial £34m for the versatile defender, with a further £4m to be paid in potential add-ons.

Having completed his medical in London, Calafiori has now joined his new teammates on their pre-season tour of the United States.

Mikel Arteta identified the 22-year-old, who starred for Italy at Euro 2024, as his top defensive target.

Calafiori received rave reviews in the group stages in Germany, while he also impressed for Bologna last season by helping them secure their Champions League place.

His dazzling performances led to Juventus taking an interest in the youngster, while Chelsea also had him on their radar, before signing Renato Veiga from Basel.

Real Madrid were also rumoured to be interested in Calafiori, who has been compared to Sergio Ramosbut the former Roma player only had his eyes set on Arsenal.

Arsenal have been in talks with Bologna over the player for the past month, and the Italian side have also had to deal with Swiss side Basel.

The two clubs had been discussing the hefty 50 percent sell-on clause Basel was required to pay after selling him to Bologna in August 2023.

And with that now settled, Arsenal have finally confirmed the arrival of Calafiori, where he has become their second signing of the summer after David Raya's loan move from Brentford turned into a permanent movement.

It now remains to be seen where Calafiori will fit into Arteta's system, with the player capable of operating as both a centre-back and left-back.

Arteta seems unlikely to alter the partnership between William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of defence.

And this could see Calafiori being deployed as a wing-back, where he would be used in a similar role to right-back Ben White.

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Jurrien Timber, who missed most of the season with a knee injury, would be used as a backup option at all three defensive positions.

And Calafiori's arrival could now see Arsenal look to offload Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who have both been linked with moves away from the Emirates.

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