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Arsenal have acted decisively in the summer transfer window to land a major defensive addition, reaching an agreement with Aston Villa for Ezri Konsa. The England international is now expected to undergo a medical on Thursday as Mikel Arteta looks to address an emerging injury crisis in defence.

According to The Athletic, Arsenal have agreed a deal worth £51m plus add-ons with Aston Villa for Konsa. The 28-year-old England international said goodbye to his Villa team-mates on Wednesday and is due to complete his medical on Thursday, with Arteta moving quickly to strengthen his defensive resources after injuries to important members of his squad.

The move gathered pace after constructive talks at ownership level helped close the initial gap in valuation, with Aston Villa having earlier rejected a £30m offer from Arsenal while holding out for £60m for the England defender. With those differences now resolved, both Premier League clubs are working quickly to complete the final paperwork.

Arsenal’s pursuit accelerated sharply because of increasing injury problems in defence, with both William Saliba and Jurrien Timber currently unavailable. The French defender is facing an extended period out after a recurring back problem - which he had managed through the closing months of last season - eventually worsened when he was forced off during France’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain. With those major absences to deal with, Arteta identified Konsa as the ideal option to step straight into the starting line-up.

Although Konsa was Arsenal’s leading target this summer, he was not the only player they considered. As The Athletic reported on Friday, the North London club also looked into a move for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah as part of their wider search for defensive reinforcements. In the end, however, the Villa defender’s Premier League experience and tactical flexibility made him their first choice.

The 28-year-old is set to arrive in North London with proven top-level quality, having played a significant part in England’s run to the World Cup semi-finals this summer. Konsa started every match before the 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina, where he came on as a 72nd-minute substitute. Over the course of the tournament, he was used mainly in his natural centre-back position, while also offering important cover at right-back when needed.

Konsa has been a vital figure in Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side, playing a central role in their progress from a mid-table team to regular challengers in Europe and the Premier League. With more than 280 appearances for the West Midlands club, the England international - who is now entering the final two years of the five-year contract extension he signed in September 2023 - offers exactly the Premier League toughness and leadership Arteta wants in his defence.

Last season may well have been the best of Konsa’s career so far, as he made 48 appearances in all competitions for a team that surpassed all expectations. During that landmark campaign, Villa won the Europa League and finished fourth in the Premier League to book their place at Europe’s top table - completing a remarkable rise for the defender since joining from Brentford in 2019.