Ferdinand Says Manchester United Missed Out on Arsenal’s Ezri Konsa

By Zee Dladla | 03.11.2026 | Business Last Updated On 03.11.2026

Ferdinand Says Manchester United Missed Out on Arsenal’s Ezri Konsa

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has said the club should have moved for Ezri Konsa before the centre-back completed a £55m transfer from Aston Villa to Arsenal in the summer window.

Ferdinand highlights Arsenal signing

Konsa, who arrived at Arsenal from fellow Premier League club Aston Villa, has been praised by Ferdinand as a high-quality addition for Mikel Arteta’s squad.

  • Ferdinand described Konsa as a “top player”.
  • He said Manchester United should have attempted to sign the defender.
  • The former England international pointed to Konsa’s efficient style of play as a key strength.

Arteta faces increased defensive competition

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand said he had urged his son to pay close attention to Konsa’s performances because of the defender’s effectiveness on the pitch.

“I told my son yesterday, ‘Watch Ezri Konsa,’ because he is efficient in everything he does,” Ferdinand said. “That gives Mikel Arteta a very good problem to deal with.”

He added that Konsa’s ability made him a player United should have secured before Arsenal completed the £55m deal.

Written by Staff Writer

Zibuyile began her media journey as a sales intern at Mediamark (Kagiso Media) before moving into digital content creation for ZAlebs.com. Over four years, she helped evolve the platform from a simple blog into one of South Africa's leading independent entertainment news sites.

Following ZAlebs' transition to Celebrity Worx in 2016, Zibuyile was promoted to Executive Editor, recognized for her sharp audience insight and ability to match editorial with branded content. Highlights of her time include a Bookmark Award nomination, judging TLC's Next Great Presenter, reporting from the MTV EMAs, and building partnerships with radio stations like YFM, Cliff Central, and Good Hope FM.

Her editorial work also expanded to include fast-growing digital verticals—such as lifestyle tech, online entertainment, and gambling-related content—tailored to evolving reader interests and brand opportunities.

Published on 03.11.2026
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