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July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Sports Desk • Football

Riccardo Calafiori

Riccardo Calafiori is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Arsenal and the Italy national team.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Riccardo Calafiori is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Arsenal and the Italy national team. Born in Rome in 2002, he rose through Roma's youth system and joined Arsenal in 2024 after a breakout season with Bologna.

Early life and youth career

Calafiori was born in Rome and developed in AS Roma's youth academy. He overcame a serious knee ligament injury as a teenager, which delayed part of his early development.

Club career

He made his senior debut for Roma in 2020 and later played for Genoa, Basel, and Bologna. His performances for Bologna, including helping the club qualify for the UEFA Champions League, led to his transfer to Arsenal in 2024.

International career

Calafiori is a full Italy international and made his senior debut in June 2024. He was part of Italy's squad at UEFA Euro 2024 and started all three group-stage matches.

In short

  • Italian defender who plays for Arsenal and Italy.
  • Came through Roma's youth system, debuted in 2020.
  • Joined Arsenal in 2024 after helping Bologna qualify for Champions League.
  • Played for Italy at Euro 2024.

Quick questions

Who is Riccardo Calafiori?
He is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Arsenal and the Italy national team.
When was Riccardo Calafiori born?
He was born on 19 May 2002.
Which clubs has Calafiori played for?
He has played for Roma, Genoa, Basel, Bologna, and Arsenal.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riccardo_Calafiori
    Supports: Birth date, nationality, position, clubs, and move to Arsenal.
  2. Arsenal FC — https://www.arsenal.com/men/players/riccardo-calafiori
    Supports: Current club, squad number, date of birth, national team, debut details, and positional profile.
  3. Premier League — https://www.premierleague.com/en/players/466075/riccardo-calafiori/overview
    Supports: Nationality, preferred foot, date of birth, and appearance statistics.
  4. BBC Sport — https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/crg5p3vg7pjo
    Supports: Career path, Bologna spell, injury background, and Arsenal transfer context.
  5. BBC Sport — https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c93pe7gxv5do
    Supports: Injury recovery and transfer to Arsenal.
  6. Transfermarkt — https://www.transfermarkt.us/riccardo-calafiori/profil/spieler/502821
    Supports: Birthplace, height, position, and contract details.