Ezri Konsa

Key strength: Adaptability

Versatile player

From their commanding 3rd-place perch, Aston Villa have turned heads this season, and anchoring that remarkable rise is the ever-reliable Ezri Konsa. The 28-year-old England international has been a defensive mainstay, starting all 21 league matches and amassing 1,806 minutes as the immovable foundation of Unai Emery's backline. Partnering with Pau Torres in front of the world-class Emiliano Martínez, Konsa brings a rare blend of defensive steel and technical composure to Villa's build-up play. His intelligence shines through the stats: zero yellow cards across the entire campaign—a testament to his disciplined positioning and reading of the game—while his aerial dominance has been crucial to Villa's stingy defensive record. Though he's only chipped in with one goal, Konsa's true currency lies in the unseen work: recovery runs, perfectly-timed interceptions, and the quiet authority that snuffs out danger. With a £35 million market value and a contract running through 2028, Villa have secured both immediate excellence and long-term stability. As the West Midlands club chase their first Champions League qualification in over a decade, Konsa's consistency could prove the bedrock upon which those dreams are built.