Arsenal new signing’s medical delayed | OneFootball

Riccardo Calafiori’s Arsenal medical has been rescheduled, but the Bologna defender is still expected to join the United States tour.

LEIPZIG, GERMANY: Luka Modric of Croatia and Riccardo Calafiori of Italy compete for the ball during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Croatia and Italy at Football Stadium Leipzig on June 24, 2024. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images for FIGC)

Following prior claims that Riccardo Calafiori would hold a medical at Arsenal earlier this week, Fabrizio Romano reports that the tests have been rescheduled for Saturday morning.

According to the Italian journalist, the medical had to be delayed while the formal documentation for the move was completed, and that was finally achieved on Friday night.

Calafiori will now travel from Rome to London on Saturday, before moving on to the USA. Mikel Arteta’s squad are currently in the States for Arsenal’s pre-season tour.

BOLOGNA, ITALY: Riccardo Calafiori of Bologna FC in action during the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and US Salernitana at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on April 01, 2024. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Given the timing of the medical, Calafiori presumably won’t play any part in Arsenal’s next friendly match against Manchester United in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Even if he could get there in time, he would be exhausted and lacking a single training session with his new teammates.

Wednesday night’s game against Liverpool (00:30 BST on Thursday UK time) will also likely come too soon, though perhaps he could make a late cameo if the signing progresses very quickly this weekend.

BOLOGNA, ITALY: Riccardo Calafiori of Bologna FC celebrates after the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on February 03, 2024. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Calafiori will be keen to meet and spend some time with the squad, whether he plays any minutes in the U.S. or not.

Arsenal return to London next week, before playing a couple of friendlies at the Emirates Stadium against Bayer Leverkusen on August 7th and Lyon on August 11th.

Those are more likely dates for the defender’s full debut, should the signing go through without any further issues.