Arsenal agree Riccardo Calafiori transfer – but stumbling block is holding up deal

Riccardo Calafiori’s Arsenal transfer has hit a snag due to a disagreement between his former clubs over the fee they will each receive. The Gunners are still expected to complete the deal – but lawyers have reportedly been summoned to solve the financial dispute.

Italy international Calafiori, 22, is set to become Mikel Arteta’s first major summer signing. Arsenal and his current club Bologna have successfully agreed on a £34million deal in principal, plus add-ons.

As the deal nears completion, Calafiori has been excluded from Bologna’s pre-season training camp. And it’s only a matter of days before he undergoes his medical with the north London giants.

The delay in finalising the deal isn’t related to Arsenal, but rather Calafiori’s previous clubs Roma and Basel. Basel, who Calafiori left last summer, are due to receive 50% of Bologna’s profit from his move to Arsenal.

But according to Gazetta dello Sport, Roma – Calafiori’s first club – also believe they should receive more than the £2.1m they sold him for to Basel in 2022, which included a 40% sell-on clause. Calafiori joined Bologna in 2022 for £3.4m, with Roma reportedly receiving just over £1.3m from Basel.

However, they now claim they’re entitled to 40% of his Arsenal fee too, amounting to a whopping £6.7m. Lawyers are currently examining the agreement between Roma and Basel in an attempt to resolve the issue as relations between the two clubs escalate.

That means Calafiori’s dream move to Arsenal has hit an unexpected roadblock. Mikel Arteta too will have to wait longer than expected to start working with his new defender.

Calafiori shone at Euro 2024 earlier this summer, featuring in three of Italy’s matches and missing one through suspension. He provided a crucial assist to help them qualify for the last-16, where they eventually lost to Switzerland.

The highly-rated defender’s arrival at Arsenal could pave the way for Jakub Kiwior’s departure. Kiwior, signed from Spezia in January 2023, has been tipped for a return to Italy, with both Napoli and AC Milan reportedly showing interest.