Jarell Quansah's transfer from Liverpool to Bayer Leverkusen has been confirmed, with the defender joining the 2024 German champions in a deal worth up to £35million ($48M).
The 22-year-old fell to fourth choice in the center-back pecking order last season, with Arne Slot reluctant to deploy the academy graduate unless necessary. A summer exit always felt possible heading into the window, and his move to Leverkusen developed quickly in the wake of Florian Wirtz's transfer in the opposite direction.
Liverpool.com reported on June 19 that talks between the clubs were at an advanced stage, and only Quansah's involvement in the Under-21 European champions held the transfer up.
The center-back played every minute for England at the tournament, and following Saturday's victory in Slovakia, spent a day back in the country before traveling to Germany. Quansah underwent his medical on Monday, and after passing the tests and signing a five-year contract, the deal has now been announced.
Leverkusen has paid an initial fee of £30M ($41M), with an additional £5M ($7M) in add-ons, while a buyback clause has also been added to the deal.
The fee paid by the former Bundesliga champions makes him the most expensive player in the club's history. Leverkusen believes it has signed one of Europe's brightest defensive talents.
It comes in a summer of transition for Leverkusen, with Xabi Alonso departing as head coach to be replaced by Erik ten Hag. The former Manchester United manager has been forced to contend with the exits of Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Odilon Kossounou, as the title-winning side is slowly dismantled.
Jarell Quansah
Quansah struggled to hold down a spot in the team under Slot.
Quansah follows Mark Flekken and Ibrahim Maza in signing for Leverkusen and could face Liverpool in this season's Champions League.
The youngster's exit leaves the Reds with just three center-back options - Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez - and will likely force the club into the transfer market to find a replacement. Marc Guehi has been strongly linked with a move to Anfield, while Jorrel Hato has also been mentioned as a possible target.
Van Dijk and Konate formed a solid partnership last season that proved impossible for Quansah to disrupt.
Having started the opening game of the season away to Ipswich Town, the Warrington-born defender was replaced at half-time and was criticized by Slot in his post-match assessment.
Jarell Quansah
Quansah played a key role for England at the Under-21 Euros. (Image: 2025 DeFodi Images)
He failed to start a league game in his preferred center-back role until after the title was sewn up, when he came in for games at Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion. His only other league start of the season came at right-back against Newcastle United, amid a short-term injury crisis.
Quansah didn't impress in cup matches either and was replaced late on in October's Carabao Cup win over Brighton, while he scored an own-goal in the previous round against West Ham United, and was fortunate not to be sent off in the quarter-final victory over Southampton.
His displays improved over the campaign, and Quansah ultimately made 25 appearances across all competitions. He earned praise from Slot on several occasions in the season's final months, but the Dutchman admitted in May that Quansah needs to add consistency to his game.
The performances at the Under-21 Euros underlined how Quansah can impress when given a run in the side, something he hopes will become the norm at Leverkusen.