The transfer saga surrounding Riccardo Calafiori has come to an end. The Italian, who had attracted attention with strong performances at Euro 2024, has signed for Arsenal.
Calafiori joins the Gunners from Serie A overachievers Bologna on a five-year deal.
The transfer fee is around £38 million – half of which will go to the defender’s former club, Basel.
Arsenal sporting director Edu has spoken enthusiastically about Calafiori’s abilities.
“Riccardo has proven his qualities for his club and his country time and time again,” he said in a press release.
“He was one of the best players in Serie A last season and performed strongly for Italy at the European Championships in the summer.
“Mikel (Arteta) and our coaches are looking forward to working with Riccardo and we are all looking forward to seeing him in our shirt.”
Arteta himself added: “Riccardo is a great personality with special skills that will make us even stronger on our way to winning major trophies.
“He made a great development last year at Bologna and for Italy. His progress and development have been really impressive.”
The 22-year-old has been given Arsenal’s number 33 shirt.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")