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Riccardo Calafiori has joined Arsenal on their pre-season trip to the United States |
Arsenal have signed Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for a fee of up to £42m including add-ons.
The 22-year-old, who started three of Italy's group games at Euro 2024, has joined Mikel Arteta's club for five years.
He immediately joined his new team in Philadelphia "I'm happy to be here," Calafiori said. "I expect a lot.
"I think I will do something big this time. "Left player He played 30 games for Bologna in Serie A last season, scoring two goals and providing five assists. Fifth place to secure their place. in the Champions League.
Arteta described Calafiori as "a good signing".
"Riccardo is a good person and a character with special abilities that will make us stronger as we fight for important titles," he added.
"Has shown great progress in recent times with his performance in Bologna in Italy, where his progress and development last year was very good.
"We look forward to working with Riccardo and putting with one.
Calafiori was named Serie A Player of the Month for May - and won in all five of his appearances in Italy this summer.
joined Genoa on loan before moving to Basel in 2022.
Calafiori began his career as a left-winger who can play forward, but has often featured in central defense under Bologna coach Thiago Motta, who left Juventus in the summer.
Juve and Chelsea are among the other connected teams. . He could compete with central defender Gabriel or left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko for a place at Arsenal, who are believed to prefer both positions. Arteta's
team are hoping to challenge for their first Premier League title in 21 years after back-to-back second-place finishes.
The Gunners sell striker Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham for £27m with a £7m buyout clause.