John Terry makes shock William Saliba claim after £55m Arsenal transfer

John Terry believes William Saliba has permanently lost his place in the Arsenal team after Ezri Konsa’s £55m move from Aston Villa.

The Premier League champions completed a deal for England international Konsa on Friday after weeks of talks with Villa.

Konsa, 28, signed a four-year contract at the Emirates Stadium after ending his seven-year spell at Villa Park.

The versatile defender made just shy of 300 appearances for Aston Villa and became an England regular over the past three years, earning 28 international caps and featuring in the World Cup earlier in the summer.

Terry, one of the best defenders in Premier League history, has hailed Konsa as the ‘best value signing of the summer’ and believes he will be a ‘massive’ player for Mikel Arteta.

The Chelsea legend worked with Konsa during his time as Dean Smith’s Aston Villa assistant and insists his former player can even keep Saliba out of the Arsenal team.

Part of the reason Arsenal signed Konsa was the injury Saliba aggravated at the World Cup which is set to keep him sidelined for an ‘extended period’.

But Terry believes Konsa will establish himself as a key member of Arteta’s side while Saliba is out and then keep the Frenchman, considered one of the best defenders in the world, out of the team.

Asked who he views as the ‘best value signing’ of the summer transfer window, Terry said on the FC Bullard TikTok channel: ‘I would go Ezri Konsa for Arsenal.

‘That’s a massive signing. I think even when William Saliba is back fit, he doesn’t get back in the Arsenal team, I think Ezri Konsa is that good.

‘I worked with him at Aston villa and he’s so aggressive but also happy to play on the halfway line because if it goes in behind he’s quick enough to get there and recover.

‘He’s a really, really good player.’

Konsa said he was proud to join ‘one of the best teams in the world’ after his move from Aston Villa was finally confirmed.

‘It’s a privilege to be here and can’t wait to get started,’ said Konsa, who had discussed a move to Arsenal with some of his England World Cup teammates.

‘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.’

Arsenal boss Arteta, meanwhile, said: ‘We’re looking at the squad as a whole. We have a really young defensive line.

‘We’re getting a player who is 28 not 38, in their prime in the heart of the team. He will give us so much in the next few years.’

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta added: ‘Ezri is a defender of high quality, whose athleticism, composure and tactical intelligence have established him as one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers.

‘Being comfortable in both central defence and at right-back, Ezri will bring valuable versatility to our squad while maintaining the high defensive standards which are fundamental to our challenge of winning major trophies.’

Konsa missed Arsenal’s Premier League opener – a routine 3-0 win over newly-promoted Coventry City – but could make his Gunners debut against his former club Aston Villa next Monday night.

Arteta’s side are bidding to retain their Premier League crown while going one better in the Champions League after losing in the final back in May.

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