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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

Arsenal: Riccardo Calafiori sends message to new team-mates in first words after signing

New Arsenal signing Riccardo Calafiori has laid out his aims for the season in his first words as a Gunners player.

The Gunners paid Bologna around £40million for the defender, who impressed for both club and country last season and at the recent Euro 2024.

Calafiori represents Arsenal’s first major incoming this summer, though the club have already signed David Raya on a permanent basis from Brentford while bringing in young goalkeepers Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard.

Juventus had been interested in the 22-year-old but Mikel Arteta has now landed his leading target as the Spaniard looks to take the next step in the Premier League title race.

"I'm really happy to be here. I waited a lot,” he told his new team-mates upon signing.

"I hope we are going to do something great this year."

Arteta wanted to bring in a left-footed defender this summer and is believed to be keen to strengthen his squad further by signing a new midfielder and another forward.

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