Arsenal Agree $65 Million Deal to Sign Ezri Konsa From Aston Villa

LONDON —

Arsenal have agreed a deal worth £51 million ($65 million) to sign defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa, according to Sky Sports and Guardian Sport. BBC Sport reported the fee was worth more than £50 million and said Konsa is set to have a medical before completing his move to Emirates Stadium.

The Premier League champions have spent the summer looking for defensive reinforcements after William Saliba and Jurrien Timber both picked up injuries, Guardian Sport reported. Saliba hurt his back in France's World Cup semifinal loss to Spain and is not expected to return before mid-October, according to Guardian Sport. Timber has been battling a groin injury for months. Konsa can play both center back and right back, which makes him valuable cover for either spot.

Sky Sports reported that Arsenal had also looked at Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah before turning back to Konsa. Villa initially wanted £60 million for the 28-year-old but the two clubs settled on £51 million on Thursday, according to Sky Sports. Konsa must be registered by midday Thursday to be eligible for Arsenal's Premier League opener at home to Coventry on Friday night. If he misses that game, Sky Sports reported he could debut for Arsenal against his old club, Aston Villa, on August 31.

Konsa joined Villa from Brentford in 2019 and made 286 appearances for the club, according to Guardian Sport. He was part of the Villa team that won the Europa League last season and finished fourth in the Premier League, and he played every match of England's run to the World Cup semifinals, per BBC Sport.

Villa Reshape Squad Under Financial Pressure

Villa have sold several key players this summer to comply with Premier League and UEFA financial rules, according to BBC Sport, including Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for a club-record £117 million and Youri Tielemans to Manchester United. Left back Lucas Digne left for Paris Saint-Germain, replaced by Matteo Ruggeri, who joined from Atletico Madrid for £17 million, per Guardian Sport. Villa also signed midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for a club-record £52 million and João Gomes from Wolves for £38 million.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's future at the club remains unclear, and Villa are looking to find him a new club, according to Guardian Sport. They have already brought in Zion Suzuki from Parma for £30 million as a possible replacement, who would become the first Japanese goalkeeper to play in the Premier League.

Villa Braced for New Watkins Bid

Villa are expecting another offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal for striker Ollie Watkins after rejecting a bid worth almost £40 million, according to Guardian Sport. Watkins is Villa's all-time leading Premier League scorer. If he leaves, Guardian Sport reported that manager Unai Emery admires Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, though Chelsea's £65 million valuation could complicate a deal.