Arsenal sign Riccardo Calafiori to bolster title hopes

Arsenal have made their move for Italian international center back Riccardo Calafiori.

The Gunners announced the deal while they’re in Philadelphia preparing to play against Liverpool on Wednesday.

Per the release, Calafiori has signed a “long-term contract” which has been reported to be for five years. It has also been widely reported that Arsenal will pay Bologna $54 million for Calafiori.

The Italian international centre back, 22, was superb at EURO 2024 and helped Bologna qualify for the Champions League last season and will add an extra dimension to Arsenal’s play due to his exceptional composure on the ball and stepping out from the back.

What has Mikel Arteta said about Arsenal signing Calafiori?

Mikel Arteta had the following to say about Calafiori’s addition.

“We welcome Riccardo and his family to Arsenal. He is a great signing and gives us huge strength to reinforce our defence,” Arteta said. “Riccardo is a big personality and character, with specific skills which will make us stronger as we push to win major trophies. He has already shown great development in recent seasons with his performances for both Bologna and Italy, with his progression and development in the past year being really impressive. We’re looking forward to working with Riccardo, integrating him into the squad, and supporting him in the years to come.”

Calafiori added: “It’s actually been my dream since I was 12 or 13 years old, because I can see the level of the league here and the best players in the world, for me, play here. It’s a dream and not only for me, but for everybody.”

Do Arsenal need a new center back? Calafiori is versatile...

When you look at the duo of Gabriel and William Saliba last season, it’s tough to say that Arsenal need to improve their center backs. They had the best defense in the Premier League. But Calafiori is versatile, which Mikel Arteta loves.

Gabriel and Saliba have developed a magnificent partnership at the heart of Arsenal’s defense and the Gunners going big for a center back is a bit of surprise. But when you break it down, Calafiori is exactly the profile of center back Arteta is after and he can also play as a left back.

Wherever he plays in defense, Calafiori strides out of the back with the ball a la John Stones and also gives Arsenal the option of playing three at the back as they be more flexible and tougher to prepare to play against.

Calafiori will give Arsenal an extra dimension because as good as Saliba is at coming out of the back with the ball, he doesn’t get to do it often enough in the system Arsenal play as usually the holding midfield or the full backs are dropping deeper centrally to get on the ball and build attacks. Calafiori is certainly extremely comfortable on the ball and starting at left back, then tucking in and driving forward with the ball from central positions when Arsenal are in possession, seems like a great spot for him.

Long-term Calafiori may well be a replacement for Gabriel alongside Saliba and the Italian and French internationals are 22 and 23 years old respectively. That’s Arsenal’s center back positions locked in for the next five years, at least.

Short-term he could well start at left back as both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu have been okay but an upgrade on the left side of Arsenal’s defensive unit was definitely their top priority this summer.