Ezri Konsa appears destined to move to Arsenal from Aston Villa, and the reasons behind Mikel Arteta’s interest in bringing the adaptable defender to the Emirates are becoming evident.
The Gunners’ new sporting director Andrea Berta is working to strengthen the defensive line, with William Saliba and Jurrien Timber currently sidelined through injury.
Arsenal have finalized terms with Aston Villa to acquire Konsa. The England international reportedly said his goodbyes to the coaching staff and fellow players at Bodymoor Heath on Wednesday and is scheduled to undergo his medical examination on Thursday.
football.london has learned that Arsenal will commit £51m, along with potential additional payments, for Konsa, who still has two years left on his existing deal at Villa Park. The 27-year-old only returned to training recently after being given an extended holiday following his involvement with England at the World Cup.
Despite Konsa having featured in none of Villa’s pre-season matches, Arsenal face a pressing situation to ensure he at least makes himself available for the opening weekend of the new Premier League campaign. English top-flight regulations require players to be officially registered by midday on the working day preceding a match.
Therefore, should Berta not complete the formalities before noon on Thursday, given that Arsenal welcome Coventry City to the Emirates on Friday evening, Konsa would need to wait until the following week before potentially making his first appearance.
With this context established, football.london has examined what makes Konsa an appealing acquisition for Arsenal.
Konsa offers flexibility across the defensive line
While Konsa’s primary position is centre-back, he is equally capable of operating at full-back, providing his managers with considerable tactical options, particularly during periods of injury setbacks or the congested festive fixture schedule. In a conversation with The Athletic in August 2023, the adaptable defender stated that he always welcomes the opportunity to test himself against the world’s finest players, irrespective of his assigned position.
Regarding the full-back role, Konsa explained that it presents different challenges, with very good wingers in the Premier League presenting a test he looks forward to. He emphasized that whenever the manager selects him for that position, he will perform the required duties.
Konsa has examined Arsenal’s deadball expertise
Konsa appears poised to make an immediate impact at Arsenal. In November 2025, while representing his country internationally, the Arsenal target discussed the significance of mastering dead-ball situations and how he has refined his game accordingly.
During that conversation with reporters, Konsa noted that the current season has seen a significant increase in long throw-ins, with teams like Brentford executing them particularly effectively, creating difficult defensive scenarios. He observed that the league has become more physically demanding, requiring strength throughout the team to compete effectively.
The defender explained that the Premier League continues to evolve, becoming increasingly challenging each year. He pointed out that teams are scoring more goals from set-pieces this season, with greater tactical emphasis placed on defensive strategies around these situations.
From his perspective as a defender, Konsa stressed the importance of physical presence during set-pieces and ensuring teammates are prepared for what lies ahead, particularly given the growing prominence of throw-ins and corners in modern football.
He highlighted Arsenal’s effectiveness in converting dead-ball situations into goals and points as a significant factor, noting that these scenarios represent a crucial element of the contemporary game.
Konsa desires a return to midfield
Arsenal look set to obtain another versatile operator. During an appearance on Aston Villa’s official podcast in April 2026, Konsa spoke about how he transitioned to centre-back and revealed his ambition to eventually play in midfield once more.
Recalling his early days at Charlton Athletic, the England international explained that his original position was as a holding central midfielder, a role he genuinely enjoyed. He subsequently moved to right-back and, during an Under-18s match, was asked by the manager whether he would be willing to try playing as a centre-half. He agreed and has remained in defensive positions since that time.
Despite his experience at right-back and centre-back, Konsa has never returned to midfield and expressed a desire to do so at least once more. He considers his ability to play across different positions a blessing.
Konsa added that he feels fortunate to possess this versatility and has always maintained that wherever the manager selects him to play, he will always endeavor to fulfill his responsibilities for the team.
One of the Premier League’s finest
Bukayo Saka has already given Arsenal his endorsement for signing Konsa. In June 2024, the Hale End academy graduate reflected on the difficulties he encounters when facing the Aston Villa defender during England training sessions.
As reported by BirminghamLive, Saka discussed how he often participates in one-versus-one training exercises with Ezri, acknowledging him as one of the Premier League’s top defenders in this specific aspect of the game. Saka explained that these matchups benefit both players’ development and that he enjoys the challenge of competing against him.