Arsenal ‘WIN’ Calafiori race: Offer increased, wage revealed, deal close

Robin Bairner

Updated: 5 Jul 2024 11:34 BST
3 min read

Arsenal are rapidly closing in on making Riccardo Calafiori their first major signing of the summer transfer window.

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The Bologna defender starred for Italy at Euro 2024, and following the Azzurri being dumped out of the competition by Switzerland, Mikel Arteta and Edu have moved for the 22-year-old.

According to reports in Italy, Arsenal have stepped up the pace further to complete a swift move for Calafiori, with details of the transfer fee and his contract becoming clear.

Current ETV

Riccardo Calafiori

D (CL)

Bologna

Riccardo Calafiori

D (CL)

Bologna

ETV Range

€12.9M - €21.5M

While there has been some late haggling over Calafiori’s price, the figure Arsenal will pay for the Italy international is around €55m.

Bologna initially knocked back an offer of €47m but Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Gunners returned with a fee in “excess of €50m (we are talking about €55m)”.

The Serie A club have discussed the potential of a move with the player, but they are finding it difficult to argue against the player leaving for the Premier League.

Arteta, as well as Chelsea counterpart Enzo Maresca and PSG head coach Luis Enrique, are all said to have “fallen in love” with the player. Real Madrid tentatively made an offer and Atletico Madrid will mulling over a bid.

Gazzetta states: “In the end, Arsenal will win, giving Bologna a significant capital gain, 50% of which will end up in the coffers of FC Basel, the club from which he was fished last summer for €4m.”

FootballTransfers understands that the bonus deals involved in the deal are agreed but the structure of the payments are not as yet.

Calafiori’s contract details

Calafiori will sign what is described as a “multi-year deal” with Arsenal, Gazzetta reports.

He will earn a wage of €4m (£3.4m) per year. Working out at around €77,000 (£65,000) per week, Calafiori will be one of the poorer-paid players in the Arsenal squad, in which the vast majority of players top €100,000 per week quite comfortably.