Arsenal agree deal to sign Konsa from Villa

The Mt Kenya Times

Football
21 August 2026

The Mt Kenya Times

The £51M move addresses an injury crisis at the back as Arteta moves to bolster his defensive options ahead of the title defence

By Pascal Okoth

Arsenal yesterday agreed a deal worth £51M to sign England defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa, with the 28-year-old set to undergo a medical before completing his move to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners had a £30M bid rejected earlier in the summer, with Villa holding out for £60M, but the two clubs found a compromise with a significantly improved offer containing add-ons. Personal terms have been agreed, paving the way for Konsa to make the move to north London.

The transfer is driven by an urgent need for defensive cover. William Saliba is sidelined for an extended period due to a back injury, while Jurriën Timber remains several weeks away as he works to overcome a groin problem. Arsenal had previously explored a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah before returning to Konsa as their primary target.

Konsa made 286 appearances for Villa since joining from Brentford in 2019, helping the West Midlands club evolve from relegation battlers to consistent European contenders. His performances earned him a call-up to the England squad in 2024 and he has gone on to win 28 caps, scoring two international goals. He played a key part in England’s run to the World Cup semi-finals this summer and scored in the third-place play-off victory over France — their best finish since 1966. He also won the Europa League with Villa last season, starting in the 3-0 final victory over Freiburg.

Konsa is valued for his ability to operate at both right-back and centre-back, and won more ground duels than any other Premier League player last season — finishing ahead of Virgil van Dijk and Gabriel. That versatility and defensive authority align precisely with what Arteta demands from his backline.

Because Konsa missed the Thursday midday registration deadline, he will not feature in Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry City today. He could instead make his league debut for the club at Aston Villa on 31 August.

Arsenal are also expected to allow Ben White to leave once the Konsa deal is finalised, with Everton understood to be ready to move for the defender. White is contracted until 2028 but is open to a move for more regular first-team football.

For Villa, losing Konsa represents a significant departure. The club is understood to be exploring replacements, with Fikayo Tomori and Tosin Adarabioyo among the names under consideration. The £51M fee, however, provides substantial funds to reinvest in the squad.