Ezri Konsa arrived at Brentford in June 2018 as one of the most highly rated young defenders in the EFL, having impressed during two seasons in Charlton Athletic’s first team.

Konsa began his footballing journey with renowned east London boys’ club Senrab, whose alumni include Jermain Defoe, John Terry and Ledley King, before joining Charlton’s Academy as a youngster.

He progressed through the ranks at The Valley and signed his first professional contract in December 2015, before making his senior debut the following August in an EFL Cup tie against Cheltenham Town.

Konsa quickly became a regular for the Addicks during the 2016/17 season, showing his versatility by operating not only at centre-back, but also in midfield and at full-back. His performances saw him named Charlton’s Young Player of the Year in May 2017.

That summer, he was part of the England squad that won the Under-20s World Cup in South Korea. Konsa featured against Italy in the semi-final and was an unused substitute as the Young Lions beat Venezuela in the final.

A year later, he made 47 appearances as Charlton finished sixth in League One and reached the play-off semi-finals, where they were beaten by Shrewsbury Town.

By the time he left The Valley, Konsa had made 86 appearances for Charlton in all competitions.

Brentford signed Konsa on a three-year deal, with the option of a further year, in June 2018. The defender arrived in west London shortly after making his England Under-21s debut at the Toulon Tournament, where he was part of another successful Young Lions squad.

Konsa went straight into the Bees side during the 2018/19 season and became a first-choice figure in central defence, impressing with his composure, athleticism and ability to play out from the back.

He scored the first senior goal of his career on the final day of the campaign, finding the net in a 3-0 win over Preston North End at Griffin Park.

After just one season with Brentford, Konsa followed former Bees head coach Dean Smith to Aston Villa, where he went on to establish himself as a Premier League regular.

His performances at Villa Park eventually earned him senior England recognition, with Konsa receiving his first call-up for the games against Malta and North Macedonia in November 2023.

After becoming a regular in the heart of England’s defence under Thomas Tuchel, Konsa was named in the squad for the 2026 World Cup.