Ezri Konsa

Ezri Ngoyo Konsa (born 23 October 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or right-back for club Arsenal and the England national team.

Konsa came through the academy at Charlton Athletic, and later joined Brentford and Aston Villa. He played for England at youth level, winning the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup with the under-20 team and the 2018 Toulon Tournament with the under-21s, before making his senior debut in March 2024.

Early life Ezri Ngoyo Konsa was born on 23 October 1997 to a DR Congolese father and an Angolan mother. He attended Cumberland Sports College and is a boyhood Tottenham Hotspur supporter.

Club career Charlton Athletic Konsa began his career with Senrab and joined Charlton Athletic at the age of 11. Eight days later, he received his maiden call into the first-team squad for a Championship match versus Burnley and remained an unused substitute during the 4–0 defeat. Konsa was an unused substitute on one further occasion during the 2015–16 season,

Konsa broke into the squad during the pre-season of their 2016–17 season and made his debut on 9 August 2016 with a start in a 1–0 EFL Cup first round defeat to Cheltenham Town. He signed a new three-year contract in March 2017 and was again a regular during the 2017–18 season, making 47 appearances as Charlton reached the League One play-off semi-finals. reported to be £2.5 million. He was a first choice in central defence throughout the 2018–19 season and scored the first senior goal of his career in a 3–0 victory over Preston North End on the final day.

Aston Villa

On 11 July 2019, Konsa signed for newly promoted Premier League club Aston Villa, for £12 million. The move reunited Konsa with Dean Smith, who signed him for Brentford one year earlier, and Richard O'Kelly. He scored on his debut for Villa in an EFL Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra on 27 August 2019. On 21 January 2020, Konsa assisted Tyrone Mings to set up the winning goal in a 2–1 victory against Watford. He scored his first Premier League goal on 16 July 2020, in a 1–1 away draw at Everton.

On 2 April 2021, Konsa signed a contract extension with Aston Villa until 2026. On 5 December 2021, Konsa scored twice in a 2–1 Premier League victory over Leicester City, becoming the first defender to score twice in a Premier League match for Aston Villa since 2010.

On 15 May 2022, Konsa suffered a serious knee injury in a home game against Crystal Palace. Scans confirmed that, although Konsa would miss the remaining two games of the 2021–22 season, he was expected to be fit again in August or September 2022.

Konsa returned from injury on the opening day of the 2022–23 season on 6 August 2022, and once again established himself as a first-team regular for Aston Villa. On 20 September 2023, he signed a new long-term contract at the club. On 15 April 2025, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 3–2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain during the quarter-finals of the competition.

On 6 November 2025, Konsa captained Aston Villa in a 2–0 UEFA Europa League victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv. After the match, manager Unai Emery confirmed that Konsa had been made Villa's new vice captain, deputising John McGinn. On 20 May 2026, Konsa started in the 2026 UEFA Europa League final, which Aston Villa won 3–0.

Arsenal On 21 August 2026, Konsa signed for Premier League club and defending champions Arsenal on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £51 million.

International career Youth Konsa was a member of the England squad that won the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup with his only appearance of the tournament coming as a 93rd-minute substitute during the 3–1 semi-final victory over Italy.

Konsa was named in the under-21 squad for the 2018 Toulon Tournament and made two appearances. He was an unused substitute during the 2–1 victory over Mexico in the final. but did not play in either match. He made his debut on 23 March 2024, as a 20th-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Brazil at Wembley Stadium in a friendly.

On 6 June 2024, Konsa was named in England's 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024. He made his competitive debut in the round of 16 win over Slovakia, playing the second half of extra time after replacing Jude Bellingham. In the quarter-final against Switzerland, he was selected to start in place of the suspended Marc Guéhi, playing 78 minutes before being substituted for Cole Palmer as England eventually won via a penalty shoot-out. He went on to play the final minute of stoppage time as a substitute for Bukayo Saka in England's 2–1 semi-final win against the Netherlands.

On 9 September 2025, Konsa scored his first senior international goal, the third in a 5–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification victory away at Serbia.

On 22 May 2026, Konsa was selected in England's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On 17 June, Konsa made his World Cup debut, starting alongside John Stones in central defence in England's opening match against Croatia. He went on to partner Marc Guéhi against Ghana and Panama in the second and third group fixtures, keeping back-to-back clean sheets. On 6 July, he started at centre back in England's 3–2 win over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, before moving to right back after Jarell Quansah's 54th-minute red card. He continued at right back in the 2–1 quarter-final win over Norway on 12 July. On 18 July, Konsa also played during the third-place match against France, scoring a goal in a 6–4 victory.

Style of play A right-footed centre-back who can also be deployed as a right-back, Konsa is considered a quick defender who frequently carries the ball up the field and gets blocks in on shots. He is noted to have a high clean tackle percentage rate compared to other defenders, rarely going in for last-chance tackles, Championship

2016–17 League One

2017–18 League One

Brentford 2018–19 Championship

2019–20 Premier League

2020–21 Premier League

2021–22 Premier League

2022–23 Premier League

2023–24 Premier League

2024–25 Premier League

2025–26 Premier League

Arsenal 2026–27 Premier League

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International

England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Konsa goal

Honours Aston Villa UEFA Europa League: 2025–26 EFL Cup runner-up: 2019–20

England U20 FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2017

England U21 Toulon Tournament: 2018

England UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2024 FIFA World Cup third place: 2026

Individual Charlton Athletic Young Player of the Year: 2016–17