England defender Ezri Konsa has agreed a four-year deal with Arsenal, including an option to extend his stay by a further season, after completing his medical. The 28-year-old may face former club Aston Villa on his Arsenal debut when the sides meet at Villa Park in Monday Night Football on August 31.
Konsa is Arsenal’s fifth significant addition of the summer. He follows Piero Hincapie, whose move from Bayer Leverkusen has been made permanent, as well as new arrivals Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes.
The Premier League champions turned to Konsa while seeking defensive cover during William Saliba’s lengthy absence. Jurrien Timber is also unavailable because of a serious groin injury that has kept him out for an extended period.
Villa had originally demanded a £60m fee, while Arsenal aimed to complete the transfer for considerably less. The clubs reached an agreement on Thursday, bringing the former Brentford centre-back’s move to north London to a conclusion.
Arsenal had also considered pursuing Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah, but ultimately opted for his England colleague Konsa. The pair offer comparable defensive qualities and are capable of operating both at right-back and in central defence.
