Riccardo Calafiori will wear the number 33 shirt for Arsenal this season after signing from Bologna.

The 22-year-old versatile defender completed a £42m switch to the Gunners on Monday and posed for photos alongside Mikel Arteta at the club’s pre-season training base in Philadelphia.

Calafiori started his career at Roma before moving to Swiss side FC Basel in 2022. Upon returning to Serie A with Bologna last season, he established himself as an instrumental part of Thiago Motta’s side that qualified for the Champions League for the first time in over 60 years.

The Italy international could make his first appearance for the club in the early hours of Thursday morning when Arsenal face Liverpool at the Lincoln Financial Field. However, supporters will not need to wait until then to find out what number the defender will sport this campaign, with Arsenal revealing that he will take the number 33 shirt for the 2024-25 season.

That number has been vacant since goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo left the club at the end of the season, while its previous owners include Matthew Ryan, Petr Cech and Nicklas Bendtner with Calafiori wearing number 33 at previous clubs Bologna and Basel and opting to carry that on at the Gunners.

Speaking about Calafiori’s move to Arsenal, sporting director Edu said: “Riccardo has consistently shown his quality for his club and country.