Ezri Konsa Explained

Ezri Konsa
Upright:0.8
Full Name:Ezri Ngoyo Konsa
Birth Date:23 October 1997
Birth Place:Newham, England
Height:1.83m (06feet)[1]
Position:Centre-back, right-back[2]
Currentclub:Aston Villa
Clubnumber:4
Youthclubs1:Senrab
Youthyears2:–2016
Youthclubs2:Charlton Athletic
Years1:2016–2018
Clubs1:Charlton Athletic
Caps1:71
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–2019
Clubs2:Brentford
Caps2:42
Goals2:1
Years3:2019–
Clubs3:Aston Villa
Caps3:164
Goals3:6
Nationalyears1:2017–2018
Nationalteam1:England U20
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018–2019
Nationalcaps2:7
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2024–
Nationalteam3:England
Nationalcaps3:7
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:20:49, 17 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:22:10, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

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[3] was born on 23 October 1997[1] in Newham, Greater London,[4] to a DR Congolese father and an Angolan mother.[5] He attended Cumberland Sports College and is a boyhood Tottenham Hotspur F.C. supporter.[6]

Club career

Charlton Athletic

Konsa began his career with Senrab and joined Charlton Athletic at the age of 11.[7] He began a scholarship in July 2014 and progressed sufficiently to sign a "long term" professional contract on 11 December 2015.[8] [9] 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.[10] Konsa was an unused substitute on one further occasion during the 2015–16 season, which culminated in Charlton's relegation to League One.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13] He signed a new three-year contract in March 2017 and was again a regular during the 2017–18 season,[14] making 47 appearances as Charlton reached the League One play-off semi-finals.[11]

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,[15] reported to be £2.5 million.[16] 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.[17]

Aston Villa

On 11 July 2019, Konsa signed for 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 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

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.[27]

Konsa was named in the under-21 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. 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,[30] 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.[31]

On 6 June 2024, Konsa was named in England's 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024.[32] 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.[33] 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 Cole Palmer as England eventually won via a penalty shootout.[34]

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Charlton Athletic2015–16Championship00000000
2016–17League One320301030390
2017–18League One390202040470
Total710503070860
Brentford2018–19Championship4214010471
Aston Villa2019–20Premier League2510061312
2020–21Premier League3620010372
2021–22Premier League2921010312
2022–23Premier League3800010390
2023–24Premier League3512010120501
2024–25Premier League1000000010
Total1646301011201897
Career total2777120141120703228

International

[35]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
England202470
Total70

Honours

Aston Villa

England U20

2017[37]

England U21

2018[38]

England

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ezri Konsa: Overview . Premier League . 13 November 2023.
  2. Web site: Ezri Konsa: Profile . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . . 23 March 2024.
  3. Web site: 2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed . Premier League . 20 October 2020 . 21 October 2020.
  4. Web site: Ezri Konsa: Profile . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 13 November 2023.
  5. Web site: 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 . 4 August 2018.
  6. Web site: Academies join forces . 5 September 2012 . Charlton Athletic F.C.. https://web.archive.org/web/20170616173908/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20120905-harris-academy-354776.aspx?pageView=full. 16 June 2017. dead. 16 June 2017.
  7. Web site: South London Press exclusive interview with Ezri Konsa – on January transfer window speculation, game time at Charlton Athletic and promotion hopes . Cawley . Richard . South London News . 23 February 2018 . 29 January 2019.
  8. Web site: Charlton Athletic FC Academy Player Profiles . https://web.archive.org/web/20141124052048/http://www.cafc.co.uk/team/academy/ . 24 November 2014 . dead . 5 August 2018.
  9. Web site: Academy trio sign new long-term contracts with Charlton Athletic . Charlton Athletic F.C. . 11 December 2015. 16 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170616174849/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/charlton-athletic-new-contracts-academy-2846963.aspx. 16 June 2017. dead.
  10. Web site: Ezri Konsa Ngoyo Player Profile . ESPN FC . 4 August 2018.
  11. Web site: Charlton Athletic . Football Club History Database . Richard Rundle . 13 November 2023.
  12. Web site: Player Profile . Charlton Athletic F.C. . 5 August 2018.
  13. Web site: PLAYER OF THE YEAR : 2016/17 a great learning curve for award-winning Ezri Konsa . 3 May 2017 . Charlton Athletic F.C. . 16 June 2017.
  14. Web site: Academy graduate Ezri Konsa signs new, three-year contract . 17 March 2017 . Charlton Athletic F.C. . 16 June 2017.
  15. Web site: Ezri Konsa signs for Brentford . 4 August 2018 . Brentford F.C. . 26 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210226150902/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/june/ezri-konsa-signs-for-brentford/ . dead .
  16. Web site: Brentford talking points: Konsa's quality, Mepham the leader . Storer . Tom . 20 August 2018 . FootballLondon . 4 February 2019.
  17. Web site: Ezri gets number 15 shirt for championships . Brentford F.C. . 9 June 2019 . 4 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210204143856/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/june/ezri-number-15-for-england/ . dead .
  18. Web site: Transfer News: Welcome Ezri Konsa . Aston Villa F.C. . 11 July 2019.
  19. Web site: Crewe 1–6 Aston Villa . 27 August 2019 . BBC Sport. 27 August 2019.
  20. Web site: Aston Villa haul themselves out of bottom three with late win over Watford . 21 January 2020 . The Guardian. 22 January 2020.
  21. Web site: 16 July 2020 . Everton 1–1 Aston Villa . BBC Sport . 16 July 2020.
  22. News: 2 April 2021 . Konsa pens contract extension . 2 April 2021 . Aston Villa F.C..
  23. Web site: Aston Villa 2–1 Leicester City: Steven Gerrard secures win against his former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers . 6 December 2021 . Sky Sports.
  24. News: 18 May 2022 . Ezri Konsa ruled out for up to 16 weeks . 18 May 2022 . Aston Villa F.C..
  25. Web site: Bournemouth v Aston Villa, 2022/23 . Premier League . 6 August 2022 . 14 April 2023.
  26. Web site: Konsa pens new long-term contract . Aston Villa F.C. . 20 September 2023.
  27. Web site: Academy Manager takes pride in Konsa and Lookman's World Cup triumph . Charlton Athletic F.C. . 9 January 2020.
  28. Web site: E. Konsa: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 13 November 2023.
  29. Web site: Ezri Konsa stars on England U21s debut . Charlton Athletic F.C.. 5 August 2018.
  30. Web site: Walker . Andy . 13 November 2023 . England men's squad updates: Lewis, Palmer and Konsa called up . The Football Association . 13 November 2023.
  31. News: England 0–1 Brazil . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 23 March 2024 . 23 March 2024.
  32. News: Eze & Wharton named in England squad for Euro 2024 . BBC Sport . 6 June 2024 . 6 June 2024.
  33. Web site: England 2-1 Slovakia: Match Info. 7 June 2024. UEFA.
  34. Web site: England 1-1 Switzerland (5-3 pens): Euro 2024 quarter-final player ratings. 6 July 2024. 7 June 2024. The Guardian.
  35. Web site: Ezri Konsa: Internationals . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . . 30 March 2024.
  36. News: Aston Villa 1–2 Manchester City . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 1 March 2020 . 1 March 2020.
  37. Web site: Academy Manager takes pride in Konsa and Lookman's World Cup triumph . Charlton Athletic F.C. . 5 August 2018.
  38. Web site: Final fightback takes England U21S to Toulon hat-trick with win over Mexico . The Football Association . 9 June 2018 . 10 June 2019.
  39. News: Spain 2–1 England: Heartbreak for England in Euro 2024 Final . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 14 July 2024 . 15 July 2024 . 15 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715010859/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cp68zzx8x4rt . live .