Report: Liverpool defender Quansah ready to take next step | OneFootball

Jarell Quansah Ready for Next Liverpool Leap

Promising talent at a crossroads

Liverpool’s young centre-back Jarell Quansah has spoken candidly about his ambitions while on duty with England’s Under-21s, telling The Athletic he feels he is “in a very good position to take the next step” in his career.

The 22-year-old broke through impressively in the 2023-24 campaign, starting 13 Premier League games and showing poise beyond his years. But last season’s reduced involvement—just four starts in 13 league appearances—has prompted questions about what comes next.

Despite limited minutes, Liverpool remain firm on his potential. The Athletic recently reported that Quansah is on Bayer Leverkusen’s radar, but the Anfield hierarchy value him highly and are not actively seeking to move him on.

Development built on patience and perspective

Speaking ahead of England’s group stage fixture against Slovenia at the U21 European Championship, Quansah reflected maturely on his journey so far.

“It’s definitely developing. I’m not getting too high or too low with anything,” he said. “I think I can take massive learnings from the three seasons I’ve had in professional football. From Bristol Rovers (on loan in 2023) until now, to put perspective and look back I’m in a very good position to take the next step.”

His measured tone highlights a growing football intelligence, underpinned by a clear work ethic. “It comes with working hard and staying focused on what I can control,” he added. “As for the future, it’ll put me in the best stead if I just keep my head down and keep working.”

Solidarity among Liverpool’s next generation

Quansah is joined in the U21 England squad by Liverpool teammates Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton, both of whom are also assessing their roles within the Anfield setup.

Photo: IMAGO

“We’re so close together,” said Quansah of the trio. “We can talk about a lot of things on and off the pitch, it doesn’t need to be about football… Having people close to you that you’re able to speak to is very valuable if you want to progress to the next level.”

Elliott, meanwhile, shared his own concerns, wary of “wasting years of my career” after making just two Premier League starts last term.

Long-term planning crucial at Liverpool

With uncertainty over the defensive pecking order at Liverpool and the club not short of centre-back options, Quansah’s path may depend on decisions in this summer’s transfer window. Should a loan or move abroad be the next logical step, it must be done with his development firmly in mind.

England’s U21s opened their tournament with a confident 3-1 win over the Czech Republic, and their clash with Slovenia will provide another platform for Quansah to impress.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

For Liverpool fans, Jarell Quansah represents a beacon of hope in the club’s homegrown pipeline. Calm in possession, aerially strong, and tactically aware, he’s already shown flashes of being a Virgil van Dijk understudy—particularly in that stretch during 2023-24 where he earned Jurgen Klopp’s trust.

It’s understandable that his game time dropped last season, especially with Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez rotating at centre-back, but fans will be hoping Arne Slot gives Quansah more of a consistent run. His maturity shines through not only in his quotes but in how he conducts himself on the pitch—rarely flustered, positionally disciplined, and a natural communicator.

Liverpool supporters are likely to be wary of links to Bayer Leverkusen, especially after seeing the likes of Xabi Alonso (obviously now managed by Erik ten Hag) build something compelling in the Bundesliga. If he does leave, even on loan, it must be a move that guarantees minutes. However, many will argue he’s ready for a bigger role at Anfield, especially if the club doesn’t bring in another senior centre-back.

With a full pre-season under his belt and positive exposure with England’s U21s, Quansah might just become Liverpool’s breakout star in 2025-26. Keep your eyes on him—this could be the year he truly arrives.