Arsenal suffer major delay in £37m Riccardo Calafiori transfer

Arsenal are suffering a delay in their move for Riccardo Calafiori due to a disagreement between Bologna and the defender’s former club FC Basel, according to reports in Italy.

Mikel Arteta has made Calafiori one of his top targets for the summer window and Arsenal have held extensive talks with Bologna over a deal for the 22-year-old.

It’s understood that Bologna have now accepted Arsenal’s bid, which is €40 million (£33.5m) up front plus a further €5m (£4.2m) in add-ons.

Arsenal have also agreed personal terms with the defender, who started in three of Italy’s games at Euro 2024 this summer.

However, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the transfer is being held up as Bologna and Basel are in a deadlock over Calafiori’s sell-on clause.

Basel, who sold Calafiori last year for €4m (£3.4m), are demanding 50 per cent of the transfer fee that Arsenal are due to pay, but Bologna are unhappy with those terms given the defender spent just a year with the Swiss side and did not receive his first senior call-up with Italy until May this year.

The report claims that Calafiori’s move is at a ‘standstill’ with Basel refusing to lower their demand, while the Serie A club are attempting to renegotiate the sell-on clause as they feel the rise in his value since last year is down to their faith in the player and development.

Bologna had expected Calafiori’s move to Arsenal to be completed shortly after Italy’s Euro 2024 campaign ended but the defender is now scheduled to report back for their pre-season training this weekend ahead of their training camp in Valles, Alto Adige, located in the north of Italy.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have some of their players back in training with those who participated at Euro 2024 and the Copa America given an extended break.

Mikel Arteta’s squad are due to fly out to the United States for the start of their pre-season tour on July 21.

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