Chelsea message sent by boss after transfer deal announced

Mikel Arteta has opened up and claimed that CHELSEA target Riccardo Calafiori only wanted to join Arsenal.

The 22-year-old, who can play at centre-back or left-back, has signed a five-year contract with the Gunners until 2029 and he further strengthens a defensive unit that conceded only 29 goals and kept 18 clean sheets in the Premier League.

We were reportedly also interested in a deal for the Italian star – there were bids from other clubs in the last two weeks, but Calafiori only wanted a move to Arsenal and gave his word he would join Mikel Arteta’s side, and the Spanish boss revealed he spoke to the Italy star a couple of times to make sure the deal was still on track.

‘I spoke to him one or two times and I knew the other things [teams being interested],’ Arteta said.

‘I wasn’t really sure if we could do it or not, but he was adamant: “let me know when you’re ready, my bags are ready and I just want to come to Arsenal”.

‘Those were his words and when you have that feeling, someone with that willingness to join us and make us better and that determination, it’s something really powerful and as a club, we should be really proud of that.

‘I’m very happy. It took a while – it was a player that we have monitored for a year. We were really short in the backline last year in terms of numbers and we demanded so much from them.

‘William Saliba, for example, played in every minute of the Premier League and we believe we had to be more protected.

‘We identified him as a talent that can give us skill and qualities that are going to make us better. We are signing a player with a huge capacity to develop.’

MORE BIG CHELSEA NEWS AND GOSSIP

Read More: Chelsea confirms and announces defender has made summer move!

Top Read: Chelsea fans will see powerhouse striker get summer move!

Read More: Chelsea free to sign Bundesliga ace – Blues announce defender deal – Chelsea to do Italian deal