Jarell Quansah is the next signing for Erik ten Hag's Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old central defender is making the move from Liverpool, which had previously signed Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz from the German top club. Both clubs announced the deal on Wednesday.
Embed from Getty Images
Jarell Quansah’s move from Liverpool to Bayer Leverkusen marks one of the most notable transfers of the summer window so far, both for its financial magnitude and for the strategic significance it carries for both clubs.
The 22-year-old centre-back has signed a long-term contract until June 2030, sealing a deal reportedly worth 35 million euros. For Bayer Leverkusen, who are preparing for another demanding season under the guidance of Erik ten Hag, this signing is more than a reinforcement it is a statement of intent.
The departure of Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich created a void that couldn’t be filled lightly. Tah had become a symbol of stability and consistency in Leverkusen’s back line, playing a central role in the club’s unprecedented 2023–24 campaign in which they secured their first-ever Bundesliga title, went unbeaten domestically, and reached the final of the UEFA Europa League. Replacing such an influential figure required a player with not just potential, but composure, resilience, and high-level experience. Leverkusen believe they’ve found all that and more in Quansah.
Raised in the Liverpool academy since the age of five, Quansah developed into a modern central defender comfortable on the ball, tactically intelligent, and physically strong. He captained youth sides and was widely regarded within the club as a future leader. His breakthrough into the first team came in August 2023, when then-manager Jürgen Klopp, facing a series of injuries and suspensions in his defence, handed Quansah his senior debut. What followed was a run of performances that surprised even the most optimistic fans.
Throughout the 2023–24 season, Quansah played in 25 official matches across the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and UEFA Europa League. He demonstrated a calmness rarely seen in defenders his age, often playing alongside Virgil van Dijk or Joe Gomez. He was praised for his positional discipline, aerial presence, and ability to play progressive passes qualities that attracted the attention of top clubs across Europe. Despite this, his role diminished with the arrival of Arne Slot at Anfield, who opted for more experienced options in his defensive setup.
Under Slot, Quansah found himself relegated to a more secondary role, featuring in just thirteen Premier League games the majority of which were as a substitute. That lack of consistent playing time, coupled with Leverkusen’s long-standing interest, opened the door for a move abroad. The German champions had been monitoring Quansah for over a year and were particularly impressed by his brief but memorable cameo against them in a Champions League match at Anfield, where he came on for the final minutes.
Although his time on the pitch in that match was short, it left a lasting impression on both parties. “I only played two minutes, but I could feel the level Leverkusen were playing at,” Quansah told the club’s official website. “They completely dominated the first hour of the match, something we weren’t used to seeing at Anfield. That left a mark on me. It showed me this is a team that’s not just participating in big competitions, but genuinely competing to win them.”
That experience, combined with personal conversations with Erik ten Hag and Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes, helped shape Quansah’s decision to make the move. According to sources close to the negotiations, Ten Hag was instrumental in convincing the player of his role in the club’s long-term vision. The Dutch manager, who took over Leverkusen earlier this summer, is aiming to blend the core of last season’s title-winning team with a new generation of hungry, high-potential talents and he views Quansah as a future leader in defence.
In addition to the technical aspects, Leverkusen also offered Quansah a clear path to regular first-team football, something that had become increasingly uncertain at Liverpool. With the Bundesliga champions preparing to defend their domestic crown, challenge again in Europe, and compete in the German Supercup, squad rotation will be vital but Quansah is expected to compete directly for a starting spot alongside players like Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou.
Off the pitch, Quansah brings a professional mindset and maturity that belies his age. Those who worked with him at Liverpool speak highly of his leadership qualities and work ethic. At the Under-21 European Championship this past summer, he was a key part of the England side that triumphed in Slovakia, providing composure and security in defence throughout the tournament. That success only reinforced his growing reputation as one of England’s brightest young defenders.
For Leverkusen, Quansah’s signing is part of a broader recruitment strategy aimed at maintaining their position at the top of German football while simultaneously planning for the future. Alongside him, the club has also brought in Dutch international goalkeeper Mark Flekken and is reportedly pursuing additional reinforcements in midfield and attack. With Ten Hag building a squad in his image dynamic, disciplined, and tactically flexible the pieces are slowly falling into place.
For Liverpool, the deal reflects a broader reshuffling of the squad under new leadership. Selling Quansah, a homegrown talent, was not an easy decision, but the club saw value in allowing the player to develop elsewhere while securing a significant transfer fee. It also signals a level of confidence in the depth of their defensive options going forward.
Quansah, for his part, seems fully aware of the challenges and opportunities ahead. “This is a big move for me, not just professionally but personally,” he said. “To join a club with this ambition, with this kind of fanbase and a manager like Erik ten Hag, is something I couldn’t turn down. I’m here to learn, to grow, and to help the team keep achieving great things.”
The coming season will reveal whether Quansah can fill the shoes of Jonathan Tah and live up to the expectations that come with such a transfer. But one thing is clear: Bayer Leverkusen believe in him, and they are ready to give him the stage to prove himself on the biggest stage in Germany and beyond.
Updated: 11:17, 2 Jul 2025
