Arsenal have reached an agreement worth in excess of £50 million to sign Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa, with the England defender poised to undergo a medical before finalising his switch to the Emirates Stadium.
The move comes after a stop-start negotiation process. Villa had initially set a valuation of around £60 million for the 28-year-old, and Arsenal's reluctance to meet that figure at one stage saw the Gunners turn their attention to Bayer Leverkusen's Jarell Quansea. However, talks with Villa resumed and eventually produced a compromise, allowing the transfer to move forward.
For Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, the signing addresses an urgent need at the back. William Saliba is facing a lengthy absence because of a back problem, while Jurrien Timber is still easing his way back from groin surgery. Those factors left Arteta wary of being caught short defensively as the champions prepare to defend their Premier League crown. Konsa's versatility—capable of playing at centre-back or right-back—makes him an attractive fit, offering competition for Cristhian Mosquera alongside Gabriel Magalhaes and an alternative to Ben White in the full-back role.
Speaking after Arsenal's Community Shield win over Manchester City, Arteta confirmed the club had been working