Arsenal complete Riccardo Calafiori’s $43.4m transfer: How the Italian defender will fit in North London

Arsenal have completed the signing of Riccardo Calafiori, the Italy international who joins from Bologna in a deal worth an initial $43.4 million.

The 22-year-old traveled to the United States on Monday after completing the first part of his medical treatment and signing his new contract. He will now join his teammates in preparations for the 2024/25 season. Calafiori’s versatility could be an extremely valuable asset for Mikel Arteta as he attempts to close the gap on Manchester City next season.

At Bologna and with the Italian national team, Calafiori excelled on the left of a three-man defense, having started his career as a more orthodox left-back at Roma, where he suffered a knee injury that it was feared would prevent him from returning to play. . Instead, the Italian has established himself as one of the game’s best young defenders, hailed by Leonardo Bonucci as “a reference point for the national team for the next fifteen years”, with Arsenal fending off interest from Juventus and Chelsea for his signature to secure.

“It has been a great team effort to complete this transfer and we welcome Riccardo to the family,” said sporting director Edu. “We have identified Riccardo as part of our strategy to attract players who fit our profile and who will strengthen our squad to compete at the highest level. He is 22 but brings quality and experience. He will quickly become an Arsenal player.”

“Riccardo has consistently shown his quality for his club and country. He was one of the best players in Serie A last season and has put in strong performances for Italy at the European Championships this summer. Mikel and our coaches are excited to go with Riccardo work together, and we are all looking forward to seeing him in our shirt.”

Arteta added: “Riccardo is a great personality and character, with specific skills that will make us stronger when we try to win big trophies. He has already shown great development in recent seasons with his performances for both Bologna and Italy, with his progression and development over the past year really impressive. We look forward to working with Riccardo, integrating him into the squad and supporting him in the years to come.”

Calafiori is expected to compete to become Arsenal’s starting left-back for the Gunners, hoping their second major investment of the summer transfer window will address a rare problem area for Arteta last season. Offers for Jakub Kiwior, who is of interest to Inter, are said to be seriously considered, while there is so far no indication that Arsenal are willing to open talks to extend the contract of Oleksandr Zinchenko, whose current term expires in the summer of 2026 .

Why Arsenal chose Calafiori

With the injury-ravaged Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber also in the squad, it’s not like Arsenal are out of left-back options this season. They weren’t far off the mark in having something for every occasion, from Tomiyasu’s ability to beat left-footers on the right flank to Zinchenko, perhaps unrivaled when it comes to dictating the game from an inverted role. Perhaps the challenge for Arteta was seeing what he got on Arsenal’s devastating right flank from Ben White – the only defender this club has spent more money on than they just did on Calafiori – and wanting more of the same.

In White, Arsenal have a right-back who can fill all three of the most common roles of a player in his position in 2024. Do you need someone who can drive to the byline when Bukayo Saka comes on? That’s what a Ben White is for. Looking for someone to step into midfield and help control possession? That’s what a Ben White is for. On the hunt for a full back committed to a three-man defense? Sir, may I interest you in our Ben Whites range?

Wanting another player like White is one thing, they find a much bigger challenge, but Calafiori seems as good a bet as a ‘do it all left back’. After all, before the challenge that tore every ligament in his right knee, the Italian was a sideline hugger blessed with an almighty burst. The drive through midfield that led to him setting up a dramatic late-game goal for Mattia Zaccagni Azzurri The equalizer at Euro 2024 was proof that his dynamism did not leave him with that injury. Even when playing on the left of the back three for Bologna, Calafiori had a license to drive to the last line and pick a cross.

Kai Havertz will be hoping they are delivered in the same tantalizing manner as this one above, from which Bologna scored the opening goal in a 3-1 win over Roma in April. There was certainly enough for Oussama El Azzouzi when Calafiori’s first cross arrived. His teammate could simply claim that he was hot on his heels to deliver something magical.

Calafiori’s crosses certainly promise to be a valuable weapon for a team that seems built on the old NBA scouting rule that you can’t coach height. Of the players who attempted more than eight crosses in Serie A last season, his success rate of 44 percent put him in the top 10 (albeit from a small sample size). Whether it’s a cross or a long pass, Calafiori shows great accuracy with the ball at his feet.

Generally speaking, Arteta doesn’t like aimless crossfield balls that draw oohs from the crowd but give the opponent time to reset. That could change if Calafiori plays flat, passing out precisely to the triumvirate of White, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard when they are in space. It is certainly a trait that Thiago Motta used effectively in the more cautious attacks Bologna used last season.

Add Calafiori’s ball-carrying touch to his long passing and you have a left-back who could perhaps provide a good approximation of what Zinchenko gives to Arsenal. Couple that with a player who is more natural out of possession and it should provide a solid foundation at left back; his 3.7 tackles plus interceptions per 90 minutes, a top 20 mark in Serie A last season, are all the more impressive considering Bologna had the second most possession.

Arteta has spoken of his desire to add “a little more variety and versatility at certain times” to his side if they are to make the leap from contenders to champions this season. If their wing-backs – who averaged almost a quarter of their touches per 90 last season in 2023/2024 – can do as much as White and Calafiori, Arsenal will be on solid footing indeed.