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Mikel Arteta pushing Arsenal to sign Ezri Konsa

By on July 4, 2026

Arsenal have shown a tentative interest in Aston Villa’s centre-back Ezri Konsa, according to The Telegraph.

In the years since his transfer from Brentford to Aston Villa in 2019, the 28-year-old has carved out a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most reliable centre-backs.

Across the last four seasons, he has missed just 11 league fixtures, playing a vital role in Villa achieving two top-four finishes during the previous three campaigns.

The England international featured in 48 matches in all competitions throughout the 2025/26 season and was central to the Villans ending their 30-year wait for major silverware by lifting the UEFA Europa League.

His consistently high standards were rewarded with selection in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man FIFA World Cup squad, and he has recorded a 97.3% successful passing rate in his four starts for the Three Lions so far.

Comfortable at both right-back and centre-back, he fits perfectly with Mikel Arteta’s defensive philosophy, where positional versatility is regarded as a key attribute.

It’s no surprise that the Telegraph reports Arsenal have shown tentative interest in signing Khonsa this summer.

Konsa to Arsenal

The 28-year-old is not the only Villa player linked with the Gunners, according to the report, which claims that the north Londoners have been heavily linked with Morgan Rogers, but the Birmingham outfit’s £130m valuation is considerably above what they are willing to pay.

However, the report adds that Europa League winners need to recoup funds from player sales to fund their transfer activities, which has led to interest in some of their players.

Arsenal have now placed Konsa on their radar, with the club’s manager Mikel Arteta driving their interest in the England international this summer, the Telegraph adds.

While Villa have placed a £60m valuation on Konsa, the Premier League champions believe the valuation is high for the 28-year-old, who has two years left on his contract, according to the report, so it’ll be interesting to see whether they will negotiate for a lower fee or move on to other attainable targets.

Arsenal possess one of the most formidable defensive pools not just in England but across the continent.

Still, with Ben White’s future at the Emirates shrouded in uncertainty, Konsa would represent a suitable addition to compete with Timber at right-back and provide the manager with a capable centre-back option amid reports of Saliba’s recurring fitness issues.