Arsenal complete $43.4 million Riccardo Calafiori transfer: How the Italian defender fits in North London

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

The 22-year-old travelled to the United States on Monday after completing the first part of his medical and signing his new contract and will now join up with his teammates as they begin preparations for the 2024-25 season. Calafiori’s versatility could be an extremely valuable commodity for Mikel Arteta as he bids to close the gap on Manchester City next season.

At Bologna and with the Italian national team, Calafiori excelled on the left side of a three man defense having begun his career as a more orthodox left back with Roma, where he suffered a knee injury that it had been feared would keep him from playing again. Instead the Italian has established himself as one of the sport’s outstanding young defenders, hailed by Leonardo Bonucci as “a point of reference for the national team for the next 15 years”, with Arsenal holding off interest from Juventus and Chelsea to secure his signature.

“It has been a great team effort in completing this transfer and we welcome Riccardo to the family,” said sporting director Edu.  “We identified Riccardo as part of our strategy to sign players who fit our profile and will reinforce our squad to compete at the highest level. He is 22 but brings quality and experience. He will quickly grow into being 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 gave strong performances for Italy in the Euros this summer. Mikel and our coaches are excited to start working with Riccardo, and we all look forward to seeing him in our shirt.”

Arteta added: “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 is expected to enter the battle to be Arsenal’s starting left back with the Gunners hoping that their second major investment of the summer transfer window will address what was a rare problem spot for Arteta last season. Offers for Jakub Kiwior, who is of interest to Inter, would be seriously considered, while there has so far been no indication that Arsenal are ready to open talks to extend the contract of Oleksandr Zinchenko, whose current terms expire in the summer of 2026.

Why Arsenal went for Calafiori

With injury-plagued Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber also in the squad, it is not as if Arsenal were short of options at left back coming into this season. They were not far off having something for every occasion, from Tomiyasu’s ability to lock down against left footers on the right flank to Zinchenko, arguably second to none when it comes to dictating play from an inverted role. Perhaps the challenge for Arteta was seeing what he was getting on Arsenal’s devastating right flank from Ben White — the only defender on whom this club have spent more money than they just did on Calafiori — and wanting more of the same.

In White, Arsenal have a right back who can fulfil all three of the most common roles of a player in his position in 2024. Need someone who can drive to the byline when Bukayo Saka comes infield? There’s a Ben White for that. After someone to step into midfield and help control possession? There’s a Ben White for that. On the hunt for a full back that tucks in to make a three man defense? Sir, might I interest you in our range of Ben Whites?

Wanting another player like White is one thing, finding them a far greater challenge, but Calafiori seems as good a bet as any for a do it all left back. After all, before the challenge that ruptured every ligament in his right knee, the Italian was a touchline hugger blessed with an almighty burst. The drive through midfield that led to him setting up Mattia Zaccagni for a dramatic late Azzurri equalizer at Euro 2024 was evidence that his dynamism did not leave him with that injury. Even when playing on the left of the back three for Bologna, Calafiori had license to drive into the last line and pick out a cross.

Kai Havertz will be hoping they are delivered in the same tempting fashion that this one above, from which Bologna scored the opening goal in a 3-1 win over Roma in April. Certainly there was plenty for Oussama El Azzouzi when the first time cross came in from Calafiori. His teammate might simply claim that he was teeing him up to deliver something magical.

Certainly Calafiori’s crosses promise to be a valuable weapon for a team that seems to have been built with the old NBA scout’s maxim that you can’t coach height. Of players to attempt more than eight crosses in Serie A last season, his 44 percent success rate placed him in the top 10 (admittedly from a small sample size). Whether a cross or a long pass, Calafiori shows great accuracy with the ball at his feet. 

In general Arteta does not like aimless crossfield balls that draw oohs from the crowd, but tend to give opponents time to reset. That might change if Calafiori is playing flat, precise passes out to the White, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard triumvirate when they are in space. Certainly it is a trait that Thiago Motta deployed effectively in the more cautious attacks Bologna utilized last season.

Add Calafiori’s ball carrying to his long passing and you have a left back who might be able to offer a decent approximation of what Zinchenko gives to Arsenal. Coupling that with a player who is more natural out of possession ought to make for a solid base 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 given that Bologna had the second most possession. 

Arteta has spoken of his desire to add “a bit more variability and versatility in certain moments” to his side if they are to take the leap from contenders to champions this season. When their full backs — who last season averaged nearly a quarter of their touches per 90 in 2023-24 — are able to do as much as White and Calafiori can, Arsenal will be on solid foundations indeed.