Ezri Konsa's journey from the EFL to the England team sheet shows a non-traditional academy path can produce a World Cup defender. The 28-year-old Arsenal centre-back, a £55m summer signing, is now a key figure for Thomas Tuchel's side, which leads its World Cup group with seven points from three games.

Konsa made his senior debut in an EFL competition and has amassed a vast amount of experience in the English football pyramid. He has played 853 times in the Championship, 274 in League One, and 95 in League Two, alongside 346 EFL Cup and 92 EFL Trophy appearances. This grounding is shared by the entire current England squad, as all 27 players originally named by Tuchel have featured in an EFL competition, with 21 making their senior debuts in one.

The Charlton connection

Konsa came through Charlton Athletic's academy alongside Liverpool's Joe Gomez, another England international. The pair, who both played against Belgium at Wembley, maintain strong ties with the club. Steve Avory, Charlton's former academy director and now an advisor, was a major influence. "In Ezri’s case, when he was 14 or 15 he loved to play midfield because he’s probably got better technical ability," Avory said. "They both have excellent physical qualities. They’re both quick, strong, powerful and both like Rolls Royces."

Avory recalled a specific moment that showed Konsa's defensive instincts. "It’s like when he made that tackle against Morgan Rogers when Arsenal played Chelsea. I'm thinking at the time, will he get there?" After joining Arsenal, Konsa visited the club's Hale End academy, where his close friend Karlan Grant is a player.

A squad built on EFL experience

The collective experience of Tuchel's squad in the EFL is staggering. The 27 players have combined for 1,660 appearances in EFL competitions, with 1,222 of those coming in league matches. This foundation is seen as a strength for an England team that is currently top of its World Cup qualifying group. Jude Bellingham leads the scoring with seven goals in eight appearances this season, a contribution that has been vital.

England's recent form underlines their status, with four wins in their last five matches. That run includes a 6-4 victory over France in July. The team's next challenge is a home fixture against Spain on 26 September, a key test in their qualifying campaign. Fans can check the upcoming schedule on our fixtures page. The side will be without several players for that match, including John Stones and Marcus Rashford, who are currently sidelined.

Konsa's story, from Charlton to Brentford, Aston Villa and now Arsenal, demonstrates that the route to the highest level is not exclusive to Premier League academies. His success, and that of peers like Joe Gomez, provides a blueprint for aspiring players across the football league. England's position at the summit of their World Cup group, one point clear of Croatia, is the current reward for blending such diverse experiences into a cohesive unit.

This story first appeared at Daily Mirror Football