Who are the English defenders on the verge of a transfer?

Djed Spence is on the verge of joining Inter Milan, Ezri Konsa is a target for Arsenal, Trevoh Chalobah has already moved to Como, and John Stones is also linked with Inter.

Why are English defenders cheaper than attackers?

While attackers like Morgan Rogers and Elliot Anderson have commanded transfers of over £116 million, defenders are available at significantly lower prices, such as Marc Guehi, who was sold for just £20 million.

Football

Four England World Cup Defenders Could Change Clubs This Summer

Q: How many defenders from the World Cup could change clubs?

If Spence and Konsa complete their transfers, six of the nine English defenders from the World Cup will have changed clubs in just over a year.

B.N. · Prije 9h | 4 min

After a historic third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, England's defenders have become the main talking point of the summer transfer window, with surprisingly low price tags.

Summary

England finished third at the 2026 World Cup, their best result in 60 years.
Seven of the 27 internationals have already changed clubs, with two more linked to moves.
Four defensive players from the World Cup could change clubs during the same summer.
Defenders are being sold at significantly lower prices than attackers, such as Marc Guehi for £20 million.

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England achieved their best result in men's football in 60 years by finishing third at the 2026 World Cup in North America. However, instead of keeping the squad together, the summer transfer window has seen a fire sale of internationals, particularly in the defensive department.

Of the 27 players who were part of the England squad at the World Cup, seven have already changed clubs, while two more are linked with moves. According to Stijena.info and BBC Football, the biggest surprise is not just the number of transfers, but the fact that as many as four defensive players from the World Cup could switch clubs during the same summer.

Spence and Stones on the Verge of Joining Inter Together

Djed Spence, the 26-year-old right-back from Tottenham, is on the verge of joining Inter Milan for a potential £25.6 million. He could be joined at the same club by international teammate John Stones, a 32-year-old centre-back who is available on a free transfer after a successful career at Manchester City.

Stones won the Premier League six times and the Champions League once with City, and has earned 94 caps for England. His fitness was the only question mark, but he answered by playing in five of eight matches at the World Cup. Spence stood out in the semi-final against Argentina, where he made a brilliant sliding tackle to prevent Giuliano Simeone from scoring. Tottenham finished last season in 17th place in the Premier League, while Inter are the current Serie A champions and Coppa Italia winners.

Chalobah to Como, Arsenal Want Konsa

Trevoh Chalobah, a 27-year-old defender who came into the England squad as a replacement for the injured Tino Livramento, has moved to Italian club Como. Chelsea will receive an initial £25.7 million, with a potential additional £5.1 million. Como, managed by former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, have qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Chalobah had been at Chelsea since the age of eight and won the FA Cup, the Conference League, and the FIFA Club World Cup twice with the club. He played all 90 minutes in the 2025 final when Chelsea beat PSG 3-0. However, after the arrival of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for £52 million, and with competition from the likes of Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, and Jorrel Hato, he decided to move to a club where he would be guaranteed playing time.

Ezri Konsa, the 28-year-old Aston Villa defender, is a target for Arsenal, who have already submitted a bid of £30 million, but Villa are asking for nearly double that amount. Konsa played all eight matches at the World Cup and has 28 caps for England. Arsenal won the Premier League last season and reached the Champions League final, and now need an urgent replacement for William Saliba, who will be out for an extended period with a back injury.

Cheap Defenders, Expensive Attackers

While attackers have commanded astronomical fees, England's defenders are available at significantly lower prices. Morgan Rogers moved from Aston Villa to Chelsea for £117 million, Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City for £116 million, and Anthony Gordon from Newcastle to Barcelona for nearly £70 million. Jordan Henderson joined Chelsea on a free transfer, while backup goalkeeper James Trafford moved from Manchester City to Leeds for £45 million.

For comparison, Marc Guehi moved from Crystal Palace to Manchester City in January for just £20 million because his contract was expiring in six months. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was surprisingly left off the World Cup squad by Thomas Tuchel, was bought by Real Madrid from Liverpool for just £8.5 million in May 2025. The most expensive defensive transfer was that of Jarell Quansah from Liverpool to Bayer Leverkusen for £35 million in July 2025, and that fee was higher because Quansah was only 22 at the time.

Six of Nine Defenders Will Change Clubs

If Spence and Konsa do complete their transfers, six of the nine English defenders from the World Cup will have changed clubs in just over a year. Over the past eight years, first under Gareth Southgate and then under Thomas Tuchel, England have built a reputation as a solid team that is hard to score against.

At the 2018 World Cup, England conceded eight goals in seven matches, and the same numbers were repeated in 2026. Now that defense is being dismantled in a market that values defenders significantly less than attackers, which could also impact the future look of the national team.