Burton-upon-Trent, England, October 7, 2025 – Jarell Quansah, the towering homegrown defender whose meteoric rise lit up Liverpool’s title-winning campaign last season, has laid bare the motivations behind his seismic summer switch to Bayer Leverkusen. Speaking candidly ahead of England’s World Cup qualifiers this month, the 22-year-old – who turns 23 in January – emphasized his insatiable hunger for minutes as the driving force in a £30 million move that stunned Anfield faithful still reeling from Arne Slot’s rocky start. “I have been learning from some of the best players around me at the time at Liverpool.
Being able to do that has been so good for my career. It has always been a big part of it. At this part of my career, 22 turning 23 [in January], I need hundreds of games to be where I want to be. I think overall that’s why the decision was made and why I thought going abroad was best for me,” Quansah told reporters at St. George’s Park, his voice steady with conviction.
The transfer, finalized in late June just days after Quansah captained England’s U21s to European Championship glory in Slovakia, marked the end of a 17-year love affair with Liverpool that began when he joined the academy at age five from Warrington’s Woolston Rovers. Quansah, a 6’3″ centre-back blending aerial dominance with ball-playing poise, burst into senior contention under Jürgen Klopp in 2023-24, making 25 appearances en route to the Premier League crown. His extra-time cameo in the Carabao Cup final triumph over Chelsea – Liverpool’s first trophy in six years – cemented his cult status, while a brace in Klopp’s farewell double against Aston Villa and Wolves showcased his predatory instincts. Yet, under Slot’s regime, opportunities dwindled to a mere four outings amid fierce competition from Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and Joe Gomez. “At a club like Liverpool, nothing’s guaranteed – world-class players everywhere,” Quansah reflected. “I needed to progress, not stagnate.”
Leverkusen, the Bundesliga’s relentless machine under Xabi Alonso, proved the perfect suitor. The deal – £30 million upfront plus £5 million in add-ons – shattered Leverkusen’s transfer record for a defender and included a buy-back clause for Liverpool exercisable only from 2027 at over €60 million, a savvy hedge for the Reds who view Quansah as unfinished business. Since arriving in the BayArena, the Warrington native has been an instant fixture, logging every minute of Leverkusen’s nine competitive fixtures this term. His Bundesliga debut goal – a towering header in a 2-1 home win over Hoffenheim – was pure poetry, complete with a cheeky tribute to ex-Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota’s gaming celebration. “Scoring on debut? Dream start,” Quansah grinned. “The league’s intense, tactical – it’s sharpening me daily.”
Quansah’s candor arrives at a poignant juncture for both clubs. Liverpool, crowned champions in April with a 5-1 demolition of Tottenham that Quansah helped orchestrate, now languish in third after three straight league defeats, including Saturday’s stoppage-time agony at Chelsea. Slot’s side, exposed defensively without a natural successor to Quansah despite a failed £70 million bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, has shipped seven goals in those losses. Konaté’s form has cratered, Gomez repurposed at left-back, and Van Dijk’s 34 years weigh heavy. Fans, poring over the wreckage, can’t help but ponder “what if?” – especially as Quansah, thriving abroad, dismisses any schadenfreude. “No regrets,” he insisted. “Liverpool’s still massive; they’re in a mini-blip. But I’m focused on my path.”
For England, Quansah’s ascent is a boon. Thomas Tuchel, the Three Lions’ pragmatic boss, handed him a senior debut call-up in September after John Stones’ injury, only for a minor knock to sideline him. Now, with the squad assembled for qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, Quansah eyes his first cap – a 16-month wait since Gareth Southgate’s provisional Euro 2024 nod. “Pride over frustration,” he said of five camp inclusions across three managers. “Thursday’s Wales friendly? Massive chance to show.” Teammates like Trent Alexander-Arnold – who swapped Anfield for Real Madrid in a £100 million coup – have texted support, part of a youth exodus echoing England’s “going abroad” renaissance. From Jude Bellingham’s Madrid mastery to Cole Palmer’s Chelsea coronation, Quansah joins a vanguard betting on continental growth over Premier League security.
Alonso, Leverkusen’s architect of the 2023-24 invincible double (Bundesliga and Europa League), has hailed Quansah as “the missing piece.” Deployed in a back-three that morphs fluidly, the Englishman tops the league for clearances (4.2 per 90) and ranks in the 92nd percentile for progressive passes among centre-backs. Off-field, he’s adapted seamlessly: “Bayern’s beer culture? Overrated. Give me a proper English fry-up.” Yet, nostalgia tugs. An emotional Instagram farewell to Liverpool fans – “17 years, eternal red” – garnered 500,000 likes, while a recent Anfield visit for Slot’s opener drew cheers. The buy-back stipulation? “Flattering,” Quansah shrugged. “But I’m building here first.”
This saga underscores the Premier League’s double-edged sword: a talent forge that devours its own. Quansah’s exit, alongside Alexander-Arnold’s, signals Slot’s ruthless rebuild – £150 million recouped, but defensive frailty exposed. As Liverpool chase Guehi anew and eye Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez for width, Quansah’s words resonate: development demands daring. “Hundreds of games,” he repeated. At Leverkusen, unbeaten in six and stalking Bayern Munich, he’s banking them at a rate of knots. England watch; Liverpool wait. In football’s carousel, the boy from Warrington spins toward stardom – abroad, but never far from home.
