Ezri Konsa

Ezri Ngoyo Konsa (born 23 October 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or right-back for club Aston Villa and the England national team.

Konsa came through the academy at Charlton Athletic, and later joined Brentford and Aston Villa. He played for England at youth level, winning the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup with the under-20 team and the 2018 Toulon Tournament with the under-21s, before making his senior debut in March 2024.

Early life
Ezri Ngoyo Konsa was born on 23 October 1997 in Newham, Greater London, to a DR Congolese father and an Angolan mother. He attended Cumberland Sports College and is a boyhood Tottenham Hotspur F.C. supporter.

Charlton Athletic
Konsa began his career with Senrab and joined Charlton Athletic at the age of 11. He began a scholarship in July 2014 and progressed sufficiently to sign a "long term" professional contract on 11 December 2015. Eight days later, he received his maiden call into the first-team squad for a Championship match versus Burnley and remained an unused substitute during the 4–0 defeat. Konsa was an unused substitute on one further occasion during the 2015–16 season, which culminated in Charlton's relegation to League One.

Konsa broke into the squad during the 2016–17 pre-season and made his debut on 9 August 2016 with a start in a 1–0 EFL Cup first round defeat to Cheltenham Town. He was a regular throughout the 2016–17 season and finished the campaign with 39 appearances. He also showed his versatility by deputising in midfield and at full-back. For his efforts, Konsa was named the club's Young Player of the Year. He signed a new three-year contract in March 2017 and was again a regular during the 2017–18 season, making 47 appearances as Charlton reached the League One play-off semi-finals.

Brentford
On 12 June 2018, Konsa signed for Championship club Brentford on a three-year contract, with the option of a further year, for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £2.5 million. He was a first choice in central defence throughout the 2018–19 season and scored the first senior goal of his career in a 3–0 victory over Preston North End on the final day.

Aston Villa
On 11 July 2019, Konsa signed for newly promoted Premier League club Aston Villa, for an undisclosed fee. The move reunited Konsa with Dean Smith, who signed him for Brentford one year earlier, and Richard O'Kelly. He scored on his debut for Villa in an EFL Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra on 27 August 2019. On 21 January 2020, Konsa assisted Tyrone Mings to set up the winning goal in a 2–1 victory against Watford. He scored his first Premier League goal on 16 July 2020, in a 1–1 away draw at Everton.

On 2 April 2021, Konsa signed a contract extension with Aston Villa until 2026. On 5 December 2021, Konsa scored twice in a 2–1 Premier League victory over Leicester City, becoming the first defender to score twice in a Premier League match for Aston Villa since 2010.

On 15 May 2022, Konsa suffered a serious knee injury in a home game against Crystal Palace. Scans confirmed, that although Konsa would miss the remaining two games of the 2021–22 season, he was expected to be fit again in August or September 2022.

Konsa returned from injury on the opening day of the 2022–23 season on 6 August 2022, and once again established himself as a first-team regular for Aston Villa. On 20 September 2023, he signed a new long-term contract at the club.

Youth
Konsa was a member of the England squad that won the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup with his only appearance of the tournament coming as a 93rd-minute substitute during the 3–1 semi-final victory over Italy.

Konsa was named in the under-21 squad for the 2018 Toulon Tournament and made two appearances. He was an unused substitute during the 2–1 victory over Mexico in the final. Konsa scored his first international goal on his fourth cap, in a 7–0 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification win over Andorra on 11 October 2018. He was named in the squad for the tournament finals, but made just one appearance, as a substitute in the Young Lions' dead rubber final group stage match.

Senior
Konsa received his first call-up for the England senior team in November 2023 ahead of their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Malta and North Macedonia, but did not play in either match. He made his debut on 23 March 2024, as a 20th-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Brazil at Wembley Stadium in a friendly.

On 6 June 2024, Konsa was named in England's 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024. He made his competitive debut in the round of 16 win over Slovakia, playing the second half of extra time as a substitute for Jude Bellingham. In the quarter-final against Switzerland, he was selected to start in place of the suspended Marc Guéhi, playing 78 minutes before being substituted for Luke Shaw as England eventually won via a penalty shootout.

Honours
Aston Villa
 * EFL Cup runner-up: 2019–20

England U20
 * FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2017

England U21
 * Toulon Tournament: 2018

England
 * UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2024

Individual
 * Charlton Athletic Young Player of the Year: 2016–17