Ezri Konsa

Ezri Ngoyo Konsa (born 23 October 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Aston Villa.

Ezri Konsa
Konsa playing for Aston Villa in 2021
Personal information
Full name Ezri Ngoyo Konsa[1]
Date of birth (1997-10-23) 23 October 1997[2]
Place of birth Newham, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Aston Villa
Number 4
Youth career
0000–2009 Senrab
2009–2016 Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Charlton Athletic 71 (0)
2018–2019 Brentford 42 (1)
2019– Aston Villa 135 (5)
International career
2017–2018 England U20 5 (0)
2018–2019 England U21 7 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  England
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Winner2017 South Korea
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 30 September 2023 (UTC)

Konsa came through the academy at Charlton Athletic, and later joined Brentford and Aston Villa. He has played for England at youth level, winning the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup with the under-20 side and the 2018 Toulon Tournament with the under-21s.

Club career

Charlton Athletic

A central defender, Konsa began his career with Senrab and joined Charlton Athletic at the age of 11.[4] He began a scholarship in July 2014 and progressed sufficiently to sign a "long term" professional contract on 11 December 2015.[5][6] 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.[7] Konsa was an unused substitute on one further occasion during the 2015–16 season,[7] which culminated in the Addicks' relegation to League One.[8]

Konsa broke into the first team squad during the 2016–17 pre-season and made his professional debut with a start in a 1–0 EFL Cup first round defeat to Cheltenham Town on 9 August 2016.[9][10] He was a regular throughout the 2016–17 season and finished the campaign with 39 appearances.[10] He also showed his versatility by deputising in midfield and at full back.[9] For his efforts, Konsa was named the club's Young Player of the Year.[11] He signed a new three-year contract in March 2017 and was again a regular during the 2017–18 season,[12] making 47 appearances as Charlton reached the League One play-off semi-finals.[8][13] He departed Charlton Athletic in June 2018,[14] having made 86 appearances during two-and-a-half seasons as a professional at The Valley.[2]

Brentford

On 12 June 2018, Konsa moved across London to join Championship club Brentford on a three-year contract, with a one-year option, for an undisclosed fee,[15] reported to be £2.5 million.[16] He was a first-choice in central defence throughout the 2018–19 season and he scored the first senior goal of his career in a 3–0 victory over Preston North End on the final day.[17]

Aston Villa

On 11 July 2019, Konsa moved to newly promoted Premier League club Aston Villa, for an undisclosed fee.[18] 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.[19] On 21 January 2020, Konsa assisted Tyrone Mings to set up the winning goal in a 2–1 victory against Watford.[20] He scored his first Premier League goal on 16 July 2020, in a 1–1 away draw at Everton.[21]

On 2 April 2021, Konsa signed a contract extension with Aston Villa until 2026.[22] 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.[23]

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 of 2022.[24]

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.[25] On 20 September 2023, he signed a new long-term contract at the club.[26]

International career

U20

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.[27]

U21

Konsa was named in the U21 squad for the 2018 Toulon Tournament and made two appearances.[28][29] He was an unused substitute during the 2–1 victory over Mexico in the Final.[28] Konsa scored his first international goal on his fourth cap, in a 7–0 2019 European U21 Championship qualifying win over Andorra on 11 October 2018.[28] He was named in the squad for the tournament finals,[17] but made just one appearance, as a substitute in the Young Lions' dead rubber final group stage match.[28]

Personal life

Konsa was born to a Congolese (DRC) father and an Angolan mother.[30] He is also eligible for Portuguese citizenship.[31]

He attended Cumberland Sports College and is a boyhood Tottenham Hotspur supporter.[4][32]

Career statistics

As of match played 22 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Charlton Athletic 2015–16[33] Championship 00000000
2016–17[10] League One 32030103[lower-alpha 1]0390
2017–18[13] League One 39020204[lower-alpha 2]0470
Total 710503070860
Brentford 2018–19[34] Championship 4214010471
Aston Villa 2019–20[35] Premier League 2510061312
2020–21[36] Premier League 3620010372
2021–22[37] Premier League 2921010312
2022–23[38] Premier League 3800010390
2023–24[39] Premier League 9000104[lower-alpha 3]0140
Total 137510101401526
Career total 25061001411102857
  1. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. Two appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in League One play-offs
  3. Appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

Aston Villa

England U20

England U21

Individual

References

  1. "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  2. Ezri Konsa at Soccerbase
  3. "Ezri Konsa Ngoyo: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  4. Cawley, Richard (23 February 2018). "South London Press exclusive interview with Ezri Konsa – on January transfer window speculation, game time at Charlton Athletic and promotion hopes". South London News. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  5. "Charlton Athletic FC Academy Player Profiles". Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  6. "Academy trio sign new long-term contracts with Charlton Athletic". Charlton Athletic F.C. 11 December 2015. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  7. "Ezri Konsa Ngoyo Player Profile – ESPN FC". espnfc.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  8. Charlton Athletic F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  9. "Player Profile". Charlton Athletic F.C. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  10. "Games played by Ezri Konsa in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  11. "PLAYER OF THE YEAR : 2016/17 a great learning curve for award-winning Ezri Konsa". Charlton Athletic F.C. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  12. "Academy graduate Ezri Konsa signs new, three-year contract". Charlton Athletic F.C. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  13. "Games played by Ezri Konsa in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  14. "Ezri Konsa makes permanent transfer to Championship club Brentford". Charlton Athletic official website. 12 June 2018.
  15. "Ezri Konsa signs for Brentford". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  16. Storer, Tom (20 August 2018). "Brentford talking points: Konsa's quality, Mepham the leader". FootballLondon. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  17. "Ezri gets number 15 shirt for championships". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  18. "Transfer News: Welcome Ezri Konsa". Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  19. "Crewe 1–6 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  20. "Aston Villa haul themselves out of bottom three with late win over Watford". The Guardian. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  21. "Everton 1-1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  22. "Konsa pens contract extension". Aston Villa F.C. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  23. "Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester City: Steven Gerrard secures win against his former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  24. "Ezri Konsa ruled out for up to 16 weeks". Aston Villa F.C. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  25. "Bournemouth v Aston Villa, 2022/23 | Premier League". www.premierleague.com. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  26. "Konsa pens new long-term contract". Aston Villa F.C. 20 September 2023.
  27. "Academy Manager takes pride in Konsa and Lookman's World Cup triumph". Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  28. Ezri Konsa at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  29. "Ezri Konsa stars on England U21s debut". Charlton Athletic F.C. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  30. "South London Press exclusive interview with Ezri Konsa – on January transfer window speculation, game time at Charlton Athletic and promotion hopes – South London News". londonnewsonline.co.uk. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  31. Ornstein, David (15 February 2021). "Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa on the radar of Liverpool and Tottenham". The Athletic. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  32. "Academies join forces". Charlton Athletic F.C. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  33. "Games played by Ezri Konsa in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  34. "Games played by Ezri Konsa in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  35. "Games played by Ezri Konsa in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  36. "Games played by Ezri Konsa in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  37. "Games played by Ezri Konsa in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  38. "Games played by Ezri Konsa in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  39. "Games played by Ezri Konsa in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  40. McNulty, Phil (1 March 2020). "Aston Villa 1–2 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  41. "Academy Manager takes pride in Konsa and Lookman's World Cup triumph". Charlton Athletic F.C. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  42. "Final fightback takes England U21S to Toulon hat-trick with win over Mexico". The Football Association. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
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