OFFICIAL NOW: Arsenal officially completes the signing of £80 million European top playmaker after beating Liverpool. His signature, medical this morning, jersey number confirmed – Here we go!

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is poised to finalize the signing of Bologna’s highly-regarded defender Riccardo Calafiori next week.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal has conducted a new round of talks with Bologna today to seal the deal for Calafiori. The Gunners have already reached agreements with both the player and the Italian club. All formalities are expected to be completed by next week, finalizing the transfer.

Calafiori has experienced a remarkable rise over the past year. An AS Roma academy graduate, he had an outstanding debut season with Bologna upon returning to Serie A. He featured in 33 matches, contributing to seven goals.

His consistent performances earned him a spot in the Italian squad for Euro 2024. Although the Azzurri did not meet expectations, Calafiori made a significant impact with his exceptional defensive displays. This drew interest from multiple top clubs across Europe.

Upon returning from holiday, the 22-year-old defender made it clear to the Bologna board that he wanted to join a bigger club. Initial reports suggested he preferred to stay in Italy, but Calafiori is now set to join Premier League giants Arsenal.

The Gunners have been working diligently to secure Calafiori’s services. They had already agreed on personal terms with the player for a five-year deal and recently struck a deal with Bologna. Arsenal has agreed to pay €40 million plus an additional €5 million in add-ons for the transfer.

Bologna secured a sell-on clause for Calafiori, who still has three years remaining on his contract. While the main terms are agreed upon, a few final details need to be sorted out. According to Romano, both clubs held another round of talks to finalize the deal.

Arsenal is waiting for Bologna and Calafiori’s former club, FC Basel, to agree on the sell-on clause payment structure. The player’s medical and final formalities are expected to be completed next week, after which Calafiori will officially sign with Arsenal.