Arteta wants €70m World Cup star as next Arsenal signing

Updated: 3 Jul 2026 11:13 BST | 4 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

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Arsenal are interested in signing Ezri Konsa this summer and Mikel Arteta is reportedly the driving force behind their pursuit of the Aston Villa defender.

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Konsa, 28, has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League over the past few years and he is the only outfielder to have played every available minute for England at the 2026 World Cup so far.

Current ETV

Ezri Konsa

D (C)

A. Villa

Ezri Konsa

D (C)

A. Villa

ETV Range

€39.7M - €48.5M

The Villa star is expected to retain his place alongside Marc Guehi for England’s last-16 clash against Mexico at 1am BST on Monday, and it’s likely that Arsenal officials will be keeping a close eye on his performance at the Azteca Stadium.

Konsa has been tentatively linked with an Aston Villa exit for several seasons, but a move away from Unai Emery’s side could now be on the cards this summer. The Telegraph report that Konsa is on Arsenal’s transfer radar, with Arteta understood to be behind the Gunners’ interest as he looks to build a team capable of finally winning the Champions League.

The England international has just two years remaining on his current contract at Villa Park, but an asking price of roughly €70 million (£60m) has been set, which is higher than Arsenal are willing to pay.

Konsa is naturally a centre-back, but he can also play at right-back and it’s likely that he would be a direct replacement for Ben White if he arrives at the Emirates Stadium, with the 28-year-old widely tipped to leave the north London giants before the end of the 2026 summer transfer window.

Konsa, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €44.1m, has made 286 appearances for Aston Villa since his arrival from Brentford in 2019, and he played a pivotal role as the club won the Europa League last season.

© IMAGO - Ezri Konsa is wanted by Arsenal

Morgan Rogers to Arsenal?

In addition to Konsa, Arsenal are also eager to sign his Aston Villa team-mate Morgan Rogers, who has been earmarked as their priority target for this summer.

FootballTransfers has been told that Arsenal are working on a blockbuster deal for the England attacker, while we understand that Rogers is open to completing a move to the Emirates Stadium if the opportunity arises.

However, Villa are reluctant to sanction a sale and reports indicate that a fee of €150m may be required to finalise a deal before the end of Deadline Day on 1 September.

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