Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori move 'complicated' by Roma legal battle

Arsenal's move to sign Bologna centre-back Riccardo Calafiori could be complicated by a new legal dispute between the defender's two previous clubs, reports in Italy claim.

It emerged last week that Arsenal had struck a deal to sign Calafiori for around £38m (€45.1m), with the Gunners also agreeing to a sell-on clause to tempt Bologna into parting ways with a player who played a key role in their securing of Champions League football.

Calafiori's former employers Basel are entitled to 50% of that fee as part of their deal to sell Calafiori to Bologna for €4m in the summer of 2023, but that clause could actually prove problematic for the Swiss side.

Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport report that sell-on clause is now the subject of a legal battle between Basel and Calafiori's boyhood side Roma, who also believe they are entitled to a significant share of the final sum.

Roma sold Calafiori to Basel for €2.5m in 2022 and secured a 40% sell-on clause, which yielded an extra €1.5m when the Italian defender made the move to Bologna last year.

Roma, however, believe their clause should also include a percentage of the money Bologna receive from their own sell-on clause. Bologna stand to earn at least £19m (£22.6m) and Roma want 40% of that fee - a further £7.6m (€9m).

The legal proceedings should not prove too problematic for Arsenal, who only have to complete their payment to Bologna to get a deal over the line.

Bologna, however, must agree terms with Basel, whose issue with Roma has threatened to complicate Arsenal's plan to bolster their defence this summer.

Should Arsenal complete Calafiori's signing, he will become the team's second signing of the summer, following the move which saw goalkeeper David Raya's loan from Brentford become permanent.

A new forward is also believed to be on the wish list for Arsenal, who are known admirers of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams - a player the club's supporters overwhelmingly voted in favour of signing in a recent 90min poll.

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