By OkayGoal
Ezri Konsa is set to be present for Arsenal’s opening Premier League fixture of the season against Coventry City, according to transfer insider Franchise, though the defender will not be in the matchday squad and will instead watch from allocated seats as his move from Aston Villa continues to progress.
Ezri Konsa set to be present against #Coventry / not in the squad but allocated seats to watch Arsenal first Premier League game of season / said goodbye to #AVFC teammates and hi to new Arsenal teammates as he is in London.
— Franchise 🎳 (@franchisexcl) August 19, 2026
Ezri Konsa to move from Aston Villa to Arsenal in a £50 million transfer
According to the report, Konsa has already said goodbye to his Aston Villa teammates and said hello to his new Arsenal teammates, having already travelled to London ahead of his move being formally completed. That detail alone says a lot about how far along this transfer already is. Players do not typically start integrating socially with a new dressing room, or bidding farewell to an old one, unless a deal is considered close to being finalised behind the scenes.
The timing also lines up with the reported agreement in principle between the two clubs, worth over £50 million, which was understood to have been struck at ownership level before being pushed through with Aston Villa.
With Konsa reportedly having only wanted a move to Arsenal this summer, his early presence around the club and his visible transition away from Villa Park both point toward a player who is already mentally committed to the switch, regardless of when the paperwork is officially rubber-stamped.
For Arsenal supporters, seeing Konsa in the stands on Friday night gives fans an early opportunity to catch a glimpse of their new defender in person, even if his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt will have to wait a little longer while the final administrative steps are completed.