Arsenal Nears €50M Deal for Bologna's Riccardo Calafiori After €10M Gap

Jul 20, 2024, 09:11 AM

Arsenal are on the verge of finalizing a deal to sign Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori. The agreement, worth €40 million plus €5 million in add-ons and a sell-on clause, comes after prolonged negotiations. Arsenal's initial attempts were stalled due to disagreements over the fee and the involvement of Jakub Kiwior as a makeweight in the deal. Kiwior, a Poland player, preferred a move to AC Milan, complicating the negotiations. However, recent positive talks with Calafiori's agent Alessandro Lucci have brought the deal close to completion. The 22-year-old Italian defender, who overcame a career-threatening knee injury, has expressed his desire to join Arsenal, agreeing to a five-year contract that will keep him at the club until June 2029. Arsenal are now waiting for final steps, including an agreement between Basel and Bologna over the sell-on payment terms. The initial gap in valuation between Arsenal and Bologna was around €10 million, but the deal is now closer to a €50 million package.