Arsenal have completed the signing of Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa in a deal worth up to £55million, with the England international putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium.
David Ornstein confirmed on Friday morning that Konsa has completed his move after undergoing his Arsenal medical on Thursday.
The final package is worth £51m plus a further £4m in potential add-ons, while the 28-year-old has signed a four-year contract containing an option for a fifth season.
Those formalities have now been completed.
Ezri Konsa completes £55m Arsenal transfer
Ornstein confirmed the completed transfer on Friday morning, reporting that Konsa passed his medical before signing his Arsenal contract.
It brings an end to a transfer pursuit which accelerated dramatically this week.
Arsenal initially agreed a £50m-plus package with Aston Villa on Wednesday after earlier negotiations had struggled to bridge a sizeable gap between the clubs.
The final £51m guaranteed fee represents a significant investment in a player Mikel Arteta wanted to strengthen an injury-hit defence.
William Saliba is sidelined with a back problem, while Jurriën Timber is still working his way back towards full training.
Konsa can operate centrally or at right-back, giving Arteta experienced Premier League cover across two positions.
His availability for Friday night’s Premier League opener against Coventry City remains the immediate question.
Arsenal needed the defender registered before Thursday’s cut-off to make him eligible, but no confirmation has yet emerged over whether that process was completed in time.
Regardless, the transfer itself is now done.
Konsa leaves Villa after seven years and arrives in north London as an established England international with extensive Premier League experience.
Arsenal have their defensive reinforcement. Attention now turns to how quickly Arteta can put him to use.
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