‘Hungry to win’: Ezri Konsa signs for Arsenal

Arsenal have completed the signing of England international Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa on a four-year contract, with the option to extend for a further year.

The 28-year-old defender arrives for an initial £51m, with a further £4m available in add-ons, taking the deal’s potential total value to £55m. Villa had initially held out for £60m before the two clubs found a compromise. Konsa passed his medical before the move was finalised, and could make his Arsenal debut against his former club at Villa Park on the 31st of August.

He becomes Arsenal’s fifth major summer signing, after Piero Hincapié’s transfer from Bayer Leverkusen was made permanent and Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimarães were all added to the squad. The move comes with William Saliba sidelined for an extended period and Jurrien Timber out with a long-term groin injury, leaving Arsenal short of cover at both centre-back and right-back.

Konsa began his career at Charlton Athletic, making his senior debut in 2016, before a move to Brentford in 2018 raised his profile ahead of a switch to the Premier League with Aston Villa in 2019. He went on to make 286 appearances across seven seasons at Villa Park, helping the club win the Europa League in May, their first European trophy since 1982, and finish fourth in the Premier League last season. Konsa won more ground duels than any other player in the Premier League last season, ahead of Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and his new Arsenal teammate Gabriel.

At international level, Konsa progressed through England’s Under-20s and Under-21s before making his senior debut in 2023. He played in every match as Thomas Tuchel’s side reached the semi-finals of this summer’s World Cup, before England beat France in the third-place match. Several current Arsenal players, including Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, spoke to Konsa about the move while on international duty in North America.

Sporting director Andrea Berta said: “Ezri is a defender of high quality, whose athleticism, composure and tactical intelligence have established him as one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers. Being comfortable in both central defence and at right-back, Ezri will bring valuable versatility to our squad while maintaining the high defensive standards which are fundamental to our challenge of winning major trophies.”

Konsa said: “It’s a proud moment for me and my family to play for one of the best teams in the world. I want to keep winning, I’m hungry to win and that’s what I’m here for.” Asked what he would bring to Mikel Arteta’s side, he added: “Defending. I know he loves defenders who can really defend and defenders who are calm on the ball. His style suits me.”

He will wear the number 15 shirt at Arsenal.