AFCON 2025
Premier League champions Arsenal are strenghtening in critical areas ahead of the new season and the latest addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad is English international Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa.
Credible sources have it that Arsenal have reached an agreement with Aston Villa for the central defender in a deal worth £51 million plus add-ons, with the England defender set for a medical on Thursday.
Mikel Arteta pushed hard for the signing after William Saliba suffered a back injury at the 2026 World Cup, an issue that will keep him sidelined for several months without requiring surgery. Jurrien Timber’s recurring groin problem has also left Arsenal short at the back heading into the new season.
Arsenal had seen an initial £30 million bid rejected earlier in the summer, with Villa holding out for a fee closer to £60 million. The two clubs eventually bridged the gap after talks at ownership level, and David Ornstein confirmed the improved offer has now been accepted.
Konsa has already agreed personal terms and said his farewells to Villa teammates. He arrives with two years left on his contract and brings versatility, having played both centre-back and right-back for England at the World Cup.
The move ends a pursuit that lasted much of the summer, with Arsenal previously monitoring alternatives including Jarell Quansah. Konsa will now compete with Cristhian Mosquera to partner Gabriel Magalhaes while Saliba recovers, though he may miss Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry if the paperwork isn’t completed in time.
