Arsenal interested in Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah

Arsenal are interested in Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah.

The Premier League champions are considering options at the back with first-choice central defender William Saliba set to be sidelined for an extended period with injury.

The two clubs are yet to begin talks over a potential transfer, and the German side do not want to sell the 23-year-old, who joined the club from Liverpool in the summer of 2025.

A buy-back option for the Merseyside club, set at €70million (£59m; $80m), has now expired and Leverkusen are under no pressure to sell.

The England international, who made three appearances at the 2026 World Cup, can play at both centre-back and right-back. Quansah is open to a move to the Emirates Stadium if the situation develops.

Arsenal have also shown interest in Quansah’s fellow England defender Ezri Konsa, though there is a significant gap between Arsenal and Aston Villa’s valuations of the 28-year-old.

Quansah is a product of Liverpool’s academy and enjoyed a breakthrough 2023-24. However, he played a more restricted role in his final season at the club — Liverpool’s title-winning campaign of 2024-25. The defender started just four times in the top flight.

He made 58 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, scoring three goals.

In his debut season in Germany, Quansah made 44 appearances and scored five goals as Leverkusen finished sixth in the Bundesliga. He has also established himself in the England squad and has earned six caps.

Why do Arsenal want Quansah?

Analysis by Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas

Arsenal are looking for defensive reinforcements to help cover for the absence of William Saliba.

The Frenchman finally succumbed to a long-term back problem during the World Cup, and is currently resting to allow the issue to settle before beginning rehabilitation. Arsenal have confirmed they expect him to miss an “extended period”.

Quansah and Konsa both fit Mikel Arteta’s specifications — they are centre-halves with Premier League experience who can also provide an option at right-back.

Those criteria also saw Arsenal explore a possible move for Cristian Romero, but Tottenham were unwilling to sell to their neighbours.

What would he offer?

Analysis by Liverpool correspondent Gregg Evans

If Arsenal’s plan is to continue building the tallest team in history then it’s no surprise Jarell Quansah is on the radar.

At 6ft 3ins, he’s the type of player who can help significantly at set pieces — an area where Arsenal are already strong — and also offer a commanding presence in defence.

Perhaps the biggest attraction, though, is his composure on the ball and influence around build-up.

Quansah showed that he was a calming presence and ready to play for a top team in the Premier League during his Liverpool days. His year of regular football in Germany would have only helped and it feels like a low-risk option.

Quansah came through Liverpool’s academy before being sold a year ago. (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

How has Quansah fared at Leverkusen?

Analysis from German football correspondent Seb Stafford-Bloor

Quansah did not have the easiest first season in Germany. He was signed during the summer of 2025, when Leverkusen were experiencing a heavy transition. Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong were sold to Liverpool, Jonathan Tah left on a free transfer and joined Bayern Munich, while club captain Lukas Hradecky and midfielder Granit Xhaka departed for Monaco and Sunderland respectively. The squad and its leadership group were rebuilt from the ground up, in particular in defensive positions, and Quansah was asked to form instant chemistry with several other new signings.

It did not always go well. While there was nothing wrong with Quansah’s individual performances, the lack of cohesion ultimately told, as Leverkusen finished a distant sixth in the Bundesliga, missing out on Champions League qualification. A porous defensive record — 49 goals conceded from 34 league games — was certainly a contributing factor.

Further context is needed, though, because Leverkusen’s season was shaped by events at its start. Just a few weeks in, head coach Erik ten Hag was dismissed and replaced by Kasper Hjulmand, and while the latter did a passable job before departing in May, the entire campaign felt instructed by that initial chaos.

Quansah remains a great defensive hope for the team. Nothing that happened last season has changed how he is regarded and Leverkusen will be very keen to resist any offers. Nevertheless, he and they will be hoping for far more stability in 2026-27, under Carles Martinez Novell, the 42-year-old Spanish coach who has been appointed following three years at Toulouse.