Arsenal have moved quickly to solve their defensive problem by striking an agreement with Aston Villa for Ezri Konsa, but they aren’t quite finished in the market yet.
The Premier League champions are set to pay around £51 million for the England international after reaching a breakthrough in negotiations with Villa.
Personal terms have been settled and a medical is booked, leaving only the final formalities before Konsa can be presented as an Arsenal player.
His arrival has become particularly important because Mikel Arteta begins the new season without two senior defenders.
William Saliba is facing an extended absence with the back problem he aggravated during the World Cup, while Jurrien Timber has also been dealing with a groin injury.
Konsa provides the immediate cover Arsenal needed because he can operate in central defence or move across to right back. He is also accustomed to playing in a high defensive line and has the recovery speed required when space opens behind him.
|
Rank |
Player |
Club |
Ground duels won |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Ezri Konsa |
Aston Villa |
73.12% |
|
2 |
Nathan Aké |
Manchester City |
72.73% |
|
3 |
Ayden Heaven |
Manchester United |
71.15% |
|
4 |
Virgil van Dijk |
Liverpool |
70.00% |
|
5 |
Gabriel Magalhães |
Arsenal |
69.90% |
|
=6 |
Sven Botman |
Newcastle United |
68.75% |
|
=6 |
Joël Veltman |
Brighton |
68.75% |
|
8 |
Lisandro Martínez |
Manchester United |
68.63% |
|
9 |
Luke O’Nien |
Sunderland |
68.18% |
|
10 |
Tosin Adarabioyo |
Chelsea |
68.00% |
The 28-year-old leaves Villa after seven seasons in which he developed from a promising Brentford signing into an established England defender.
He helped Unai Emery’s side win the Europa League last season and finish fourth in the Premier League, giving Arsenal another player with experience of demanding European schedules, not to mention international pedigree with England.
Konsa follows Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimarães and Illan Meslier into Arteta’s squad, while Piero Hincapie’s loan has also been made permanent.
Arsenal have strengthened several areas, but their work in attack might not be finished.
Leandro Trossard has joined Besiktas and Gabriel Martinelli recently rejected an approach from Galatasaray, despite Arsenal being prepared to consider his sale if they secure a suitable replacement.
Arsenal want greater threat from that flank as they prepare to defend their title during another demanding campaign.
Arsenal prepared to make £87m bid for Juventus star Kenan Yildiz
Italian newspaper Tuttosport now reports that Arsenal’s interest in Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz could develop into an offer worth £87 million.
The Turkey international is described as one of Arteta’s ‘major’ targets as the manager pushes for another elite attacking addition.
No bid has been submitted, and the language remains cautious, but the size of the possible proposal shows how highly Yildiz is rated in north London.
The 21-year-old generally starts from the left but can drift centrally, receive the ball between midfield and defence and create shooting opportunities with either foot.
He was named Serie A’s Rising Star for 2025/26 after becoming the main creative figure in a difficult Juventus campaign, so the Old Lady will have little interest in making negotiations easy.
Yildiz wears their famous number 10 shirt and signed a new contract until June 2030 only six months ago.
He also became the youngest captain in the club’s history last September, underlining his status as the player Juventus want to build around.
After completing the deal for Konsa, however, Arteta could now turn his attention towards landing the attacking statement signing he still wants.
