Aston Villa linked with three defensive targets as Ezri Konsa nears Arsenal move
Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has nearly completed a transfer to Arsenal, according to reports published on 20 August 2026. Villa are already exploring potential replacements, with three defenders named in recent reports.
The deal for Konsa is reported to carry an initial fee of £51 million, with further add-ons possible, and the 26-year-old is expected to undergo a medical with the Premier League champions on Thursday before an official unveiling. Arsenal are preparing for life without William Saliba because of a long-term injury, and Konsa’s ability to play as a centre-back and right-back, combined with his ball-carrying and passing attributes, has been cited as a key reason for the move; he recorded the best pass accuracy in the league last season and is described as comfortable starting attacks from the back.
For Aston Villa, the exit of a long-serving player is viewed as a significant loss; Konsa joined the club from Brentford in 2019 and made 48 appearances across all competitions last season. Sources in the report described him as one of Villa’s most important players and said his departure would be felt late in the summer window.
Chelsea’s Tosin Adarabioyo has been linked as a leading replacement option, with multiple English media outlets reporting the 28-year-old is interested in a move to Villa. The coverage notes Tosin had his squad number changed ahead of the season, is training with a group told they can leave, has less than two years remaining on his contract and is said to favour a Premier League transfer, with Sky Sports insider Lyall Thomas naming Villa as frontrunners.
AC Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori is also reported as a target; the Italy-based coverage states he is entering the final year of his Rossoneri contract and could be available for a fee of €10-15 million. Gazzetta.it is cited as reporting Tomori would prioritise a return to the Premier League and would favour a move to Villa, while Milan are reportedly willing to reduce their wage bill by moving him on.
Aston Villa have reportedly held talks with Bayern Munich over Kim Min-jae after showing interest "for weeks," according to the reports. The 29-year-old is described as not guaranteed a starting role at Bayern, with the German club asking for a fee between €20 million and €30 million, though Kim has reportedly rejected approaches from Villa and Nottingham Forest with the option of changing his mind in the coming days.
If completed, Konsa’s transfer will bring an end to his seven-season spell at Villa and clear the way for the club to pursue replacements. The three players named in coverage — Tosin Adarabioyo, Fikayo Tomori and Kim Min-jae — have been specifically linked with moves to Villa in the recent reporting.