Arsenal’s latest acquisition, Riccardo Calafiori, has revealed that his choice to join the Gunners was significantly influenced by his Italian teammate, Jorginho.
Despite their brief acquaintance, the seasoned Jorginho played a pivotal role in convincing Calafiori to choose Arsenal over other suitors, including Liverpool.
Their interaction took place during Italy’s 2024 European Championships campaign, where Jorginho shared his positive experiences from his time with Chelsea and Arsenal.
In his debut interview with Arsenal, Calafiori expressed gratitude for Jorginho’s advice, saying, “I just met Jorginho one month ago, but I can see that he’s a really good guy. He said, ‘Come, come, come! You will enjoy being here, the team is amazing, and the staff, everything is good.’ You can see that already from the first minutes here.”
Arsenal officially announced Calafiori’s signing on Monday, marking him as the newest addition to their defensive lineup, which features prominent players like William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
The transfer, valued at approximately €50 million, £42 million, with an additional €5 million in bonuses, secured Calafiori a five-year contract through June 2029.
At 22, the former Bologna defender will wear the no.33 jersey as he begins his Premier League journey.
He expressed enthusiasm for this new chapter, noting, “It feels amazing but from my point of view, it’s just the start, the beginning of something bigger, so I’m excited to start to play for Arsenal.”
