Report: Arsenal nearing Konsa deal

According to The Athletic, Arsenal are close to agreeing a deal with Aston Villa for Ezri Konsa, who is set to become the fifth addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad this summer.

The 28-year-old England international has been firmly on Arsenal’s radar since it became clear William Saliba would face several months on the sidelines with a back injury, prompting the club to move for an experienced, Premier League-proven defender.

A Londoner by birth, Konsa came through the academy at Charlton Athletic, making his senior debut for the Addicks in 2016 before joining Brentford in a £2.5 million move two years later. After just one season in West London, he signed for newly promoted Aston Villa and has gone on to establish himself as one of the Premier League’s most reliable defenders under Dean Smith, Steven Gerrard and, more recently, Unai Emery.

In total, Konsa has made 286 appearances for Villa, scoring 12 goals and providing four assists. Although primarily a centre-back, he has also featured more than 40 times at right-back, versatility that could prove invaluable for Arteta given the injuries to Saliba and Jurrien Timber. It also offers additional cover for Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera across the back line.

Konsa made his senior England debut under Gareth Southgate in 2024 before cementing his place under Thomas Tuchel. He started seven of the Three Lions’ eight matches at this summer’s World Cup, further enhancing his reputation as one of the country’s most dependable defenders.

It’s unclear how much Arsenal are going to pay, but Villa were asking for as much as £60 million for their vice-captain. While some supporters may baulk at that number, Arteta will no doubt argue Arsenal have secured a ready-made solution to a Saliba-sized problem that threatened to unsettle the season before it had even begun.

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