sakidbet Riccardo Calafiori has revealed why he chose to join Arsenal amid interest from a number of clubs. sakidbet

Calafiori was officially unveiled by Arsenal on Monday after moving from Bologna for a fee in the region of £42m, signing a contract until 2029. ( sakidbet  )

After his excellent performance at Euro 2024, many big teams were interested in signing him, but the 22-year-old defender chose to join the Gunners because he saw it as the most suitable club for him.

The Italian defender said: “It’s easy because this is the best project for me in the next few years. I spoke a lot with the coach (Mikel Arteta) and Edu, they convinced me, but I was already convinced myself.” 

“It feels amazing. It’s been difficult up until now (the transfer process), but finally I’m here and I can’t wait to start training with the team and playing for the fans.” 

“The Premier League has been my dream since I was 12 years old because I saw the level of the league here and the best players in the world. It’s a dream, and not just for me, but for everyone. I can’t wait.”

Calafiori has been training with his Arsenal team-mates in the United States and could make his debut in a friendly against Liverpool on Wednesday in the United States, or Thursday morning in Thailand.