On July 23, Arsenal is making a full-throttle pursuit of Bologna’s robust defender Calafiori, hoping his addition will elevate the quality of their backline. The British media outlet teamtalk has summarized 11 first-team players that Arsenal has signed over the years from Serie A clubs, many of whom have had significant impacts on Arsenal’s history and contributed to the club’s glory.
Among them, three key figures that helped build Arsenal’s glorious era under Arsène Wenger—Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, and Patrick Vieira—all came from Serie A teams. In the summer of 1995, Arsenal set a then club-record transfer fee of £7.5 million to sign Bergkamp from Inter Milan. The “Ice Prince” made 422 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 120 goals and providing 111 assists, and is regarded as one of the most talented players in Premier League history.
In 1996, Arsenal paid £3.5 million to bring in Vieira from AC Milan. He played a crucial role in the double-winning seasons of 1997-1998 and 2001-02, and served as captain during the unbeaten season of 2003-04.
In the summer of 1999, Arsenal again set a new club-record transfer fee of £11 million to sign Henry from Juventus. During his initial stint at Arsenal, Henry scored 226 goals in 370 appearances, showcasing exceptional efficiency and becoming a true legend for the club.