Ezri Konsa has expressed his frustration with the financial regulations impacting Aston Villa, stating that they have "killed" the club in the recent transfer window. The defender admitted he couldn't bring himself to watch the drama of deadline day unfold, given the restrictions Villa were operating under.
The club has been navigating a difficult summer, constrained by the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and UEFA's equivalent financial fair play regulations. These rules have forced Villa to operate under strict restraints, requiring them to break even while also reducing their wage bill.
Konsa isn't alone in his concern. Unai Emery, the Aston Villa manager, and club captain John McGinn have also voiced their unease, calling for reforms to the current financial rules. Konsa admitted to being confused by the regulations, stating that "I don't understand it myself but from the outside looking in, it doesn't look too good". He acknowledged the impact on Villa's transfer activity, saying, "I know that. I know it's really killed us this transfer window".
Villa's financial situation led to some tough decisions. The club was open to selling Emiliano Martínez, but a buyer didn't emerge. Furthermore, they sold Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle for £39 million, a move reportedly against Unai Emery's wishes, but necessary as a homegrown player, Ramsey counted as pure profit on the books.
Despite the financial constraints, Villa managed to bring in some new faces on deadline day. Victor Lindelöf arrived on a free transfer, while Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott joined on loan deals. Konsa acknowledged these additions, stating, "Around 8 o'clock, I went on Aston Villa Twitter to see what happened and I saw that we'd signed three players, who are really good and have Premier League experience. I think that's what we needed as well". Earlier, he had avoided watching deadline day as he "knew that signing players was going to be difficult".
Aston Villa have had a tough start to the Premier League season, securing only one point from their first three games and failing to score a goal. Their high wage-to-revenue ratio, which stood at 96% in 2023-24 according to Deloitte, has added to their challenges. UEFA also fined the club on July 4 for breaching squad cost ratio rules and warned of potential competitive restrictions if a positive transfer balance wasn't achieved. Despite this, they have qualified for this season's Europa League.
Looking ahead, Konsa remains optimistic about Villa's potential. He has faith in Emery and the squad, believing they can turn things around. "We've a great squad, I believe in our squad. I believe in our manager," Konsa stated. "Hopefully the boys who have come in can really help us and push us on". He emphasized the club's ambition to compete at the top end of the Premier League, saying, "We want to stay in the top six, top five … we want to play Champions League football".
Konsa, who has been with Villa since 2019, has experienced the club's struggles firsthand, including narrowly avoiding relegation in his first season. This perspective fuels his determination to help Villa succeed. As he prepares to represent England at Villa Park in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra, Konsa is focused on contributing to both club and country. He recognizes the power footballers have to unite the nation, stating, "We know how much we can bring people together".
