Arsenal transfers: Why Riccardo Calafiori’s move from Bologna is so complex, Emile Smith Rowe nears Fulham

Riccardo Calafiori’s transfer to Arsenal is nearing completion, the Italian defender due in London on Friday for the first part of his medical before jetting off to Los Angeles to join up with his new team mates, per CBS Sports sources. More than a month of talks between Bologna and the Gunners have reached their conclusion, a deal worth an initial $43.4 million bringing Mikel Arteta his first choice target to strengthen the defense.

Such high price deals rarely go at the speed that supporters might like even when they are more straightforward transactions between two parties. Calafiori’s move, however, is anything but. Bologna, Basel and Roma: all three are entitled to a piece of the pie.

Why Calafiori’s deal is so complex

To appreciate the particular complexities around Calafiori’s move to the Premier League it is first necessary to understand his career arc so far. At 16 years of age the youngster, born in the Eternal City and a rapid riser through the Roma academy he joined at nine, looked to be developing into a marauding left back, one of such rich potential that super agent Mino Raiola had already snapped him up. Then came a horrific injury, a thudding challenge from a Viktoria Plzen player seeing his right knee swell up to three times its size. Every ligament had been ruptured, so too his meniscus and articular capsule. Such injuries are vanishingly rare in football. When they do occur they often end careers.

It took nearly a year for him to return to the pitch. When he did he started promisingly, but reports in Italy suggest that he was always fighting a battle to convince his club he could be the player he once was. When Jose Mourinho — hardly a coach renowned for his patient development of youngsters — took the helm, the writing was on the wall for Calafiori. After a loan at Genoa, a $2.8 million deal was agreed with Basel. Just in case, Roma inserted a sell on fee.

Moving to Switzerland proved to be the making of Calafiori. A year later he was back in his homeland, Basel making a profit of around $1.5 million. Again, though, they were intent on cashing in down the line. Another sell on clause was agreed with Bologna, this one understood to be between 40 to 50 percent.

Little wonder then, that when Arsenal came knocking for a star of both the last Serie A campaign and Euro 2024, there were complexities beyond just striking an agreement with Bologna. CBS Sports reported last week that common ground over the clause between I Rossoblù and Basel were the outstanding matter to be resolved when the Gunners found an agreeable structure with Calafiori’s employers. Roma also contended that they were owed further money for Calafiori and, according to CBS Sports sources, they are expected to earn 40 percent of the 50 percent that Basel get, a sum that equates to around $9.8 million.

A deal of particular complexities looks like it is nearing its conclusion then, a particularly knotty tangle that Arsenal believe is worth it for a player whose versatility — at Bologna he excelled as a ball-carrier and progressor from the left of the back three — is particularly prized by Arteta in his full backs.

Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham getting closer

Meanwhile, as Arsenal close in on their second permanent signing of the summer after David Raya, talks are progressing towards the sale of Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham. The 23 year old remains in Los Angeles on his side’s preseason tour as both clubs negotiate the final details of a deal worth up to £35 million including add ons. Talks continue to progress positively, but so far without the definitive agreement that will allow the midfielder to travel back to London.

A club record purchase by the Cottagers, the sale could ultimately match Arsenal’s own record, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s 2017 move to Liverpool. The move will also afford Smith Rowe a chance for the first team football he has struggled to find in north London since an injury-plagued 2022.