Arsenal are interested in Jarrel Quansah – what would he bring to Mikel Arteta’s side?

When Jarell Quansah left the Premier League champions in July 2025, he could hardly have imagined their successors would be knocking on his door just 13 months later.

The decision to exit Liverpool on the back of a title under Arne Slot was difficult for the centre-half, according to those with knowledge of the situation, who, like all of those spoken to for this article, asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships. He had been at the club since he was a young boy and progressed rapidly in Jurgen Klopp’s final year in charge before losing momentum under Slot. The Dutchman used him largely as cover when other favoured centre-backs were unavailable or needed a rest.

A move to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany was appealing because it represented a new challenge, in a different environment and at a club renowned for giving young players a platform.

Quansah hoped a season in the Bundesliga would reignite his career, perhaps even putting him in a position where Liverpool might activate their €70million (£59m; $80m) buy-back clause. His former club may not have rated him highly enough to keep him around, but if they had written off Quansah entirely, there would have been little reason to include the clause.

Attracting interest from the 2025-26 title winners, Arsenal, would not have been in his immediate thoughts, though. Not so soon, anyway.

Granted, he will know why they are calling. Cover is needed for the injured William Saliba, but it will still feel like a big deal as the Champions League finalists look to go a step further next season and, according to manager Mikel Arteta, “attack every trophy” with vigour.

William Saliba goes down injured against Spain at the World Cup (Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)

Perhaps a move for Quansah should come as no surprise, given that the 23-year-old’s development story is varied and unique. He had spent the back end of the 2022-23 season on loan at League One side Bristol Rovers before impressing during the following pre-season at Liverpool and then breaking into the first team.

He was the captain of the under-18s, a side that made it to the FA Youth Cup final in 2021, but rarely was he identified as a standout star among the academy kids. Some of those that The Athletic spoke to even privately questioned whether he’d ever represent Liverpool at senior level, so his subsequent success is a story of inspiration.

Quansah played alongside Virgil van Dijk (and occasionally covered for him) for Liverpool and didn’t look out of place. He was a threat from attacking set pieces and learned the importance of patience in build-up play, as well as developing his line-breaking passes to creative players.

When he needed a right-back, England head coach Thomas Tuchel turned to Quansah on three occasions during the World Cup. Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out of the squad.

His calm and composed style would have appealed to Tuchel, who clearly felt confident enough to trust the defender in high-pressure games and during testing moments.

Playing out from the back is a key strength, as he can pick out progressive passes or keep it simple. He rarely looks flustered or agitated during games but does have an aggressive edge that he turns to while largely remaining in control. The sending-off in England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the World Cup was a blot on his card, but it was a rash, out-of-character challenge. It was far from the norm.

Calm and measured on the pitch, Quansah is also relatively quiet off the pitch. The Athletic has been told by sources that, in his younger years, coaches within the England setup began to wonder why he didn’t show much emotion either after a victory or in defeat.

He’s taken on more responsibility in recent years and has come out of his shell, especially since leaving Liverpool to start a new adventure in Germany. Last season at Bayer Leverkusen, he played mainly as a right-sided centre-back across a three-man defence (illustrated below) and performed well.

To understand where he makes the most impact on the pitch, take a look at where he won most of his ball recoveries last season and how he’s comfortable winning possession higher up the pitch.

His versatility also appeals to Arsenal. The champions need reinforcements to cover for Saliba, who finally succumbed to a long-term back problem during the World Cup, and Quansah fits the bill.

Whether he’s as defensively sound as the other target for the right-sided defender role, Ezri Konsa, is questionable. Also an England international, Konsa has been a consistent and reliable performer for Aston Villa during their recent journey to the higher reaches of the Premier League. The 28-year-old reads the game well, has brilliant recovery pace and is also a threat at set pieces.

Sources say Villa value him at around £60million ($81m). People with knowledge of Arsenal’s position say they are hesitant to pay that much for a defender with little resale value, considering Quansah as a younger alternative.

With experience of playing for a Premier League team where the expectation is to win every week, Quansah will be well prepared. There’s a lot to like about his profile, and the potential to get even better is the biggest pull.

If Arsenal’s plan is to continue building the tallest team in history, then it’s no surprise the 6ft 3in (190cm) defender is on their radar.