Ezri Konsa joins Arsenal from Aston Villa to boost top-flight title defence bid
By Philip Duncan, Press Association
Arsenal have laid down a significant statement in their bid to retain the Premier League title by completing the £51million signing of England defender Ezri Konsa.
Konsa, 28, joins from Aston Villa on a four-year deal with the option of another 12 months and takes Arsenal’s summer spending to £160m with further transfers – including Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez – not ruled out by the champions.
Konsa, who started seven of England’s eight matches at the World Cup, was earmarked by the Arsenal hierarchy after William Saliba was sidelined for a significant period with a back injury. Doubts also remain over Jurrien Timber’s fitness following a long-term groin problem.
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The arrival of Konsa – who can operate at both right-back and centre-half – comes as a major boost to Arsenal’s title defence, which begins at home to Coventry at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night.
It is anticipated that Konsa will be paraded on the Emirates turf prior to his new side’s opener against the Sky Blues.
The defender is poised to make his debut against his former employers when Arsenal face Aston Villa at Villa Park a week on Monday.
“It’s a privilege to be here and I can’t wait to get started,” said Konsa, who clinched the Europa League with Villa last season.
“I want to keep winning, I’m hungry to win and that’s what I’m here for. I’ll do everything in my power to continue bringing success to this club.
“It’s a proud moment for me and my family to play for one of the best teams in the world. A lot of emotions have gone through my head, but I think it will really kick in on the first matchday.”
Villa and Arsenal had been apart in valuation for the England international, but a fee was agreed earlier this week. Konsa then successfully completed his medical at London Colney on Thursday.
Konsa signed for Villa in 2019, and played nearly 300 times, winning the Europa League last season and helping the club finish in the Premier League top four twice in the last three seasons. He arrives at Arsenal set for the prime years of his career.
But his exit is another blow for Villa, with Konsa following fellow key players Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans out of the door.
There are huge doubts over the future of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, whose move to Juventus fell through earlier this week, while Villa have rejected interest in striker Ollie Watkins from Al Hilal.
Konsa become Arsenal’s fifth signing of the summer so far, following Bruno Guimaraes’ £75m switch from Newcastle and Christos Tzolis’ £34m arrival from Club Brugge. Piero Hincapie also turned his temporary deal into a full-time switch, while goalkeeper Illan Meslier joined from Leeds as a free signing. Alvarez is also on the club’s radar in what would be a marque signing.
However, Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira are all likely to be moved on during the window. Gabriel Martinelli’s future is dependent on whether a left-sided forward arrives and Ethan Nwaneri is set to be loaned out. But Arteta ruled out fellow 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly leaving in his news conference on Thursday.
