Jarell Quansah sparked debate after ranking Sergio Ramos as his top centre-back in a blind list, placing Virgil van Dijk second and other legends behind them
00:25, 27 Jun 2026Updated 00:25, 27 Jun 2026
Bayer Leverkusen's English defender #04 Jarell Quansah celebrates scoring the equalising goal 1:1 during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburger SV (HSV) in Leverkusen, western Germany, on May 16, 2026. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP via Getty Images) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO
Jarell Quansah left Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen last summer(Image: Getty Images)
Jarell Quansah has risked reopening one of football's most famous club rivalries after naming Sergio Ramos as the greatest center-back of all time ahead of Liverpool legend Virgil van Dijk.
The former Liverpool defender, who joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2025 in search of regular first-team minutes, took part in a blind ranking challenge in which he had to place five iconic defenders without knowing who would come next.
His final order left Ramos first, Van Dijk second, Rio Ferdinand third, Thiago Silva fourth and Vincent Kompany fifth. It comes as Van Dijk is being linked with a possible exit from Liverpool this summer, a deal worth $99.3 million.
The ranking is likely to spark debate among Liverpool supporters given Ramos' long-running history with the club, most notably his role in the 2018 UEFA Champions League final when Mohamed Salah suffered a shoulder injury following a challenge from the Real Madrid captain. Ramos has remained a controversial figure among many Reds fans ever since.
Quansah, however, had little hesitation when Ramos was revealed as the first name.
"For me, he's number one," Quansah said. "He's my idol, really, as a centre-back. I grew up watching him. I think he's got everything. And yeah, a leader, captain. Scores goals. Aggressive. My type of centre-back, to be fair."
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The 23-year-old then faced a much tougher decision when Van Dijk appeared later in the challenge.
Quansah placed his former Liverpool teammate second, explaining the enormous influence the Dutchman had on his own development during his breakthrough at Anfield.
"I'd say number two," Quansah said. "I think, obviously, I played with him. Massive in my career. Helped me so much. Yeah, being able to play with him was an honour."
Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool on May 26, 2018 at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine
Sergio Ramos prematurely ended Salah's night in the 2018 Champions League final.(Image: VI Images via Getty Images)
Quansah's remaining selections saw Manchester United great Ferdinand placed third, Thiago Silva fourth and Manchester City legend Kompany fifth. When Kompany's name completed the list, Quansah reflected on watching the former Belgium captain during his childhood.
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"I think in that era of the Premier League," he said. "Obviously, I probably grew up watching that sort of era the most. He's an unbelievable player. What a Premier League sort of legend."
Quansah emerged as one of Liverpool's brightest academy graduates during the 2023-24 season before earning more first-team opportunities under Arne Slot the following campaign.
Seeking consistent playing time, he completed a move to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025, a decision that ultimately helped him force his way into England's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.