Riccardo Calafiori has moved to dismiss suggestions he could leave Arsenal this summer, confirming he has no plans to depart the club in the current transfer window.
The Italian full-back made 36 appearances in all competitions this season as Arsenal claimed the Premier League title, ending a 22-year wait for the trophy.
Calafiori joined Arsenal from Bologna in 2024 and has since been linked with a move away, with Chelsea mentioned as a potential destination for the defender.
Despite the speculation, the 24-year-old has addressed his future directly, making clear his immediate focus remains with the Gunners rather than elsewhere.
Speaking to La Repubblica, Calafiori said: “Not now (moving away from Arsenal). One of the reasons I came to play in England is that few Italians have made a career here.”
He did, however, acknowledge a long-term desire to return to Italy, admitting the pull of his home country remains strong regardless of his current commitments.
“But the way it feels in Italy is unlike anywhere else. And I have unfinished business there,” he told the publication.
When pressed on whether his comments referred specifically to Roma, Calafiori responded: “Of course. I was young, I played very few games. I’d like to return to my favourite team.”
Calafiori came through the youth system at Roma but managed just 18 first-team appearances before departing to Basel on a permanent basis in 2022, then joining Bologna the following season.
Having also finished second to Liverpool in the Premier League the previous season, Calafiori described what winning the title this time around meant to him personally.
“Winning the Premier League was one of my childhood dreams,” he said, reflecting on the achievement at the end of a remarkable campaign.
He identified one moment in particular as the highlight of the title celebrations, pointing to a result elsewhere that confirmed Arsenal as champions.
“The best moment was the final whistle of the Bournemouth-City match. We all exploded: the staff, the players. We were all together, cheering,” he said.
Calafiori added: “We felt lighter. The title had been missing for 22 years. Walking around the city, I realised how important it was for the fans and for the people.”
Arsenal will now look to complete a historic double as they prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in this weekend’s Champions League final in Budapest.
