Aston Villa’s decision to sell Ezri Konsa to Arsenal for up to £55million was not simply the result of the Premier League champions eventually meeting them somewhere close to their asking price.
Villa had attempted to keep the England international by offering him a new contract that would have placed him among the club’s highest earners, according to The Athletic.
That agreement remained unsigned.
With Konsa entering the final two years of his contract and approaching his 29th birthday, Villa ultimately decided this summer represented an opportunity to bank a considerable profit while his value remained close to its peak.
It explains why a player Unai Emery trusted so heavily was allowed to leave.
Aston Villa moved from £60m demand to £55m Konsa agreement
Villa’s position initially appeared uncompromising.
Read Aston Villa reported last week that Arsenal remained around £25million short of Villa’s valuation, with the club seeking more than £60million for the defender.
Arsenal valued Konsa closer to £40million.
According to The Athletic’s detailed account of the transfer, talks at ownership level eventually helped the clubs find common ground at £51million plus £4million in potential add-ons.
That is still a substantial fee for a defender who turns 29 in October.
Villa originally paid Brentford around £12million for Konsa in 2019, meaning the guaranteed £51million alone represents a profit approaching £40million before accounting for other costs attached to the original transfer.
Villa also knew the contractual picture was beginning to change.
Konsa had two years remaining and, despite being offered a lucrative extension, had not signed it.
Waiting another 12 months would have left Villa negotiating over a 29-year-old entering the final year of his deal.
Selling now protected the value they had developed over seven seasons.
Villa were preparing for life without Konsa
Perhaps the most revealing detail is that Villa’s recruitment operation had already planned for this scenario.
The Athletic says Villa had established both priority and back-up centre-back targets before Arsenal accelerated negotiations this week.
Fikayo Tomori and Club Brugge defender Joel Ordóñez had previously been identified, although the cost of signing Ordóñez makes a move this window less likely.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis remains a particularly important target.
Villa have already had an £18million plus add-ons offer rejected by Southampton, with the Championship club demanding considerably more for their captain.
Fikayo Tomori and Tosin Adarabioyo have also emerged among Villa’s defensive options.
It makes the Konsa decision easier to understand.
Villa did not suddenly decide one of Emery’s most reliable players was expendable.
They attempted to extend his contract, set a high valuation and prepared replacements in case a suitable bid arrived.
Arsenal eventually reached a number Villa believed was too significant to reject.
For a £12million signing approaching 29 with an unsigned contract offer and two years remaining on his deal, £51million guaranteed was the point at which Villa chose value over continuity.
