Surprise ‘NEW PLAN’ for Calafiori ahead of Arsenal move – Fabrizio Romano

Robin Bairner

25 Jul 2024 11:23 BST
4 min read

Riccardo Calafiori is set to join Arsenal from Bologna in the next hours, but there has been a late change of plan as the Italy international prepares to swap Serie A for the Premier League, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

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Calafiori, 22, is poised to join the Gunners in a deal worth €45 million, which includes a €40m upfront fee.

The Italy star will sign a five-year deal at the Emirates Stadium on completion of a successful medical exam, which was expected to take place in the USA, where Arteta’s Arsenal team are on tour.

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Romano, though, says there has been a late alteration to the schedule and, crucially, confirms that the deal is still set to go ahead.

“Arsenal have just scheduled new plan for Riccardo Calafiori,” he reported via X.

“Understand first part of medical will take place in London with player due to travel soon.

“Final check in the US and then Calafiori will sign five year deal as a new Arsenal player.

“Here we go, confirmed.”

🔴⚪️🛫 Arsenal have just scheduled new plan for Riccardo Calafiori.

Understand first part of medical will take place in London with player due to travel soon.

Final check in the US and then Calafiori will sign five year deal as new #AFC player.

Here we go, confirmed. 🔐🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/RcjIsUjFHp
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 25, 2024

Late twist in a short saga

Calafiori’s transfer has been a relatively brief saga but it has not been without drama.

For a period, Arsenal and Bologna struggled to agree a transfer fee, which led some in Italy to report that the deal was on the brink of collapse.

Since this impasse has been solved, there has been a further delay in the completion of the transfer as FC Basel and Bologna have negotiated terms over a sell-on clause the Swiss side obtained last year, when Calafiori moved back to Italy for €4m.

And there is potential drama to come, with Basel and Roma potentially heading for the courts over another sell-on clause related to the Italy star.

It appears unlikely that Calafiori will hook up with Arsenal in time to play their next pre-season friendly with Manchester United on Saturday evening local time, but equally, his arrival at the club is only a matter of time.