Jarell Quansah refused to be drawn too far into the future when it comes to a Premier League return, despite Liverpool having a buyback clause.
Quansah left his boyhood club for Bayer Leverkusen last summer, a move that delivered the regular football he had hoped for and a place in England’s World Cup squad.
The 23-year-old has seen his bold decision to leave Anfield vindicated, with a first World Cup start in the Three Lions’ final group game on Saturday, though his night ended early due to injury.
Although he is no longer a current player, Liverpool will be keeping a close eye on the defender’s progress after they agreed a buyback clause with Leverkusen.
But Quansah is not exactly mulling over a Premier League return, telling BBC Football Daily that he is only thinking about “the now.”
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Tuesday, November 25, 2025: Bayer Leverkusen's Jarell Quansah during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Tuesday, November 25, 2025: Bayer Leverkusen's Jarell Quansah during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“I always think about the now, really,” he replied when asked if he’d return to England. “We’ve got a massive tournament ahead of us, and at World Cups, anything can happen from one week to the next.
“You just don’t know with football, just like I didn’t know exactly when I was gonna leave Liverpool and my time at Bristol.
“So you can be anywhere in the next two years, you can be anywhere in the next 10.
“I’ve just got to think about how I can affect the now and be the best version of myself right now, and that’s all I can do.”
Liverpool agreed a buy-back clause when sanctioning Quansah’s exit, which can see him rejoin for €80 million (£69.3m) this year or for €60 million (£52m) in 2027, with terms reportedly already agreed with the player.
A move this summer has already been ruled out in Germany, but BILD‘s reliable Leverkusen source Axel Hesse has claimed he is set to rejoin Liverpool as a “key player” in 2027.
Jarell Quansah does not regret leaving Liverpool
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 25, 2025: Liverpool's Jarell Quansah with the trophy, as the team celebrate becoming Champions for the 20th time, after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 25, 2025: Liverpool's Jarell Quansah with the trophy, as the team celebrate becoming Champions for the 20th time, after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
There is an obvious argument to be had that if Quansah had not left Liverpool, he would not have earned a place at the World Cup.
But the 23-year-old was not eager to consider the ‘what ifs’, having made a decision last year purely out of the need for “guaranteed playing time.”
“I don’t like to think on ifs, buts and maybes,” Quansah started. “The decisions I make, I am not going to regret them, I’m not going to dwell on them.
“I am always going to back myself, and that’s exactly what I did.
“I knew I needed almost guaranteed playing time, and I am not naive to think that I was just gonna automatically get that at Liverpool.
“So I could go to a top club playing in the Champions League, playing week in and week out, and I played 44 games or so. That is so, so valuable for my career.
“And it’s for me, it’s not just about the now. It’s about the future as well. It’s about what I want to become. Like I say, I’m definitely progressing and getting better and better.”
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