Arsenal have completed the signing of defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa in a deal worth up to £55m in total transfer fees.
The fixed fee for the 28-year-old stands at £51m, with a further £4m potentially payable through add-ons agreed between the two clubs.
Konsa has signed a four-year contract at the Emirates Stadium, with the option of an additional 12 months built into the agreement.
The England international passed his medical before Arsenal officially announced the move, with the club releasing photos of Konsa in his new kit.
“It’s a proud moment for me and my family to play for one of the best teams in the world,” Konsa said following confirmation of the transfer.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta offered his own assessment of what the defender brings to the Premier League champions.
Berta said: “Ezri is a defender of high quality, whose athleticism, composure and tactical intelligence have established him as one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers.”
Arsenal’s need for defensive reinforcement has grown urgent, with William Saliba sidelined for an extended period and Jurrien Timber also out with a long-term groin problem.
Aston Villa had initially held out for £60m for their defender, while Arsenal pushed to pay considerably less before both clubs settled on the current fee structure.
The move could lead to an immediate reunion between Konsa and his former club, with Arsenal due to face Villa at Villa Park on August 31 in a Monday Night Football fixture.
Konsa becomes the fifth major signing of Arsenal’s summer transfer window, following a busy period of recruitment at the Emirates.
Piero Hincapie joined permanently from Bayer Leverkusen, while Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis, and Bruno Guimaraes also arrived as part of Arsenal’s summer overhaul.
The arrival of Konsa signals Arsenal’s ambition to strengthen their defensive options as they look to build on their Premier League title success.