Stat Scouting: Riccardo Calafiori

Arsenal look close to adding another versatile defender to an already stout defense

I have been holding back on going to deep on this transfer for a while because I was just so skeptical and I didn’t want to waste my time, or your time reader, but it looks like this is a real deal and very well could be Arsenal’s first signing of a new player this summer.

Italian players just don’t typically leave Italy, especially when they are being chased by one of the big clubs, and the Italian press has a lot of pressure to generate and report even the tiniest hint of a rumor to fill up space. That can lead to a lot of stories that don’t pan out.

Riccardo Calafiori looks like it will be different.

David Ornstein of the Athletic reporting today “Arsenal are now progressing the situation and looking to complete a deal for the 22-year-old as soon as possible” and Fabrizio Romano adding “Arsenal and Bologna have reached an agreement for Riccardo Calafiori, after breakthrough revealed earlier! Understand fee is €40m plus €5m add-ons and sell-on clause.”

This is a move that I think makes a lot of sense for Arsenal. It isn’t an exciting move for an attacker, it isn’t a move for a much-needed midfielder, and that can/will frustrate people, but it is a move that addresses a spot where there is room to improve the first eleven.

It is a bit tough to use stats on a defender to make a confident call on his ability but based on what I have seen with his statistical production and the video, this is a player that makes me excited.

Calafiori played primarily as a left sided center back for Bologna but has also played as a left back and had an incredibly unique role that saw him given lots of freedom to move about the field.

It’s hard to say with certainty but my guess is that he would come in to play as the primary left back for Arsenal and add depth to the pool of players capable of playing left center back.

Arsenal’s squad is in flux with several potential exits, but this is my depth chart currently and with Calafiori in the team.