Arsenal has completed the signing of England defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa for a reported £51 million. The 28-year-old has agreed to a four-year contract with an option for an additional year with the Premier League champions.
Konsa underwent his medical on Thursday before finalizing the move. The transfer comes as Arsenal prepares to begin their title defense against newly-promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium. The reported fee represents a significant gain for Aston Villa, as Arsenal's initial valuation of the player, who had two years remaining on his contract, was £30 million.
Last season, Konsa made 48 appearances across all competitions for Aston Villa, contributing two goals and one assist. He was a key player in Unai Emery's squad that won the Europa League and secured a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, earning Champions League football for the 2026-27 season. Konsa also served as vice-captain for Villa, often wearing the armband in John McGinn's absence.
Konsa was a consistent presence for England during their recent World Cup campaign, where the team finished third. He played in all but one of England's eight matches in the tournament, primarily forming a central defensive partnership with Marc Guehi under manager Thomas Tuchel. He also demonstrated his versatility by playing at right-back during England's quarter-final victory over Norway.
Konsa was not part of Aston Villa's squad for their UEFA Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain the previous week, as he was on holiday following the World Cup.