Ezri Konsa signs for Arsenal as Emery admits more Villa players could leave
Aston Villa worried Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez could be the next to leave the Birmingham club
Ezri Konsa has finalised a move to Arsenal, as his now-former Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has admitted that Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins could also leave.
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The England centre-back, 28, has joined the Gunners in a £55m, four-year deal after seven seasons in Birmingham.
Konsa said: "It's a privilege to be here and can't wait to get started. I want to keep winning, I'm hungry to win, and that's what I'm here for.
"It's a proud moment for me and my family to play for one of the best teams in the world."
Aston Villa have already sold Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Donyell Malen among others, but sadly for fans the exodus might not stop with Konsa.
Emery said there is an “issue” with striker Watkins and that he could go if the price was right, adding that wantaway goalkeeper Martinez could potentially follow now they have signed a potential replacement in Zion Suzuki.
The Spanish manager said about Watkins: "We have an issue with him, it’s clear. He is another player, we have had offers for him.
“He is our player, I don’t want to sell him. It can change because if it is a good option for him, good option for the club and I can replace him in the squad."
Villa have made several additions, as alongside Suzuki, they have signed Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes, Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
On Martinez, Emery said: “He transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career.
“Not now, even last year, he was thinking in case he can have one possibility to change and he didn’t do last year, and he performed fantastically with us.
“This year again, he transmitted us the possibility to have another challenge, and we decided to sign Suzuki because I think he’s a fantastic goalkeeper in case Martinez is leaving.”