Why Roma are set to receive money from Calafiori transfer to Arsenal two years later
· Yahoo Sports
Reports in Italy indicate that Roma are set to receive a financial boost of around €6m as the Giallorossi appear close to settling a long-lasting dispute with FC Basel over the sell-on clause that was supposedly ‘agreed’ when Riccardo Calafiori moved between the two clubs in 2022.
Roma set to receive helpful financial boost from Calafiori’s move to Arsenal
Calafiori was born in the Italian capital and grew up playing his youth football for Roma, but struggled to earn gametime under Jose Mourinho as a youngster and was then sold to Basel by former sporting director Tiago Pinto in the summer of 2022. He then joined Bologna in a permanent deal the following season, and then earned a big-money move to Arsenal the summer after that.
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Calafiori’s move to Basel brought a fee of just €2.5m to Roma, but the Giallorossi also negotiated a 40% sell-on clause at the time of the deal. That meant that when Calafiori moved to Bologna for a €4m fee the following year, Roma pocketed another €1.6m.
However, there has been a long-lasting dispute between Roma and Basel over the last few years, as the Giallorosi believe that wording of their agreement with Basel entitled them not just to 40% of Calafiori’s next move, but to all future profits that Basel would earn from the Italy international.
So, when Calafiori joined Arsenal from Bologna at a reported cost of €45m plus bonuses, Basel picked up half of that fee as they had a 50% sell-on clause. Roma, however, feel that they are entitled to 40% of the €22.5m that Basel would have earned from their 50% sell-on clause. That adds up to around €9m that Roma feel they are still owed.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 24: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal kisses the Premier League Trophy after their team’s victory in the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The issue was taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and according to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, the two clubs are expected to reach a settlement agreement that benefits Roma to the tune of around €6m.
This comes at a particularly useful time for Roma, who must raise around €50m-€60m in funds before the end of June in order to comply with the terms of the Financial Fair Play settlement agreement they reached with UEFA a few years ago.
As well as the €6m that could be coming Roma’s way for the Calafiori deal, the club have also brought in capital gains to the sums of €2m from Saud Abdulhamid moving to Lens on a permanent deal and €3m from selling Buba Sangare to Elche.
There are ongoing reports that Roma could look to sell one of their first-team stars, such as Evan Ndicka or Manu Kone, in order to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.