Arsenal and Chelsea are among the sides linked with a big-money bid for an England star - but does the transfer story make sense?
Ahead of the summer transfer window, there had been speculation that Arsenal might move on from oft-injured right-back Ben White. That never came to pass, not least because White picked up another serious injury at the end of the 2025/26 season, there’s mounting evidence that a change could still be in the works.
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AFP via Getty Images
According to recent reports in the German media, Arsenal made a €65m (£55m) bid for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah during the transfer window. The offer was rejected, but a story from Sport Witness suggests that they haven’t been put off the idea of signing the former Liverpool defender in the future – and that they may not be the only Premier League side monitoring his progress in the Bundesliga.
Arsenal & Chelsea linked with Jarell Quansah – reports
Jarell Quansah started for England against Spain on Saturday at Wembleyplaceholder image
Jarell Quansah started for England against Spain on Saturday at Wembley | Getty Images
In their report suggesting that Arsenal continue to keep tabs on Quansah, who is currently on international duty with England, Sport Witness noted that a print edition of tabloid newspaper Bild reported that Mikel Arteta’s side had launched a €65m bid prior to the recent transfer deadline, only to be knocked back by Leverkusen.
Quansah, for his part, is said to have accepted the decision, but it’s claimed that there are “doubts” that he would be so happy to stay put if the option of a big move back to England came up a second time. Given his recent form in Germany, that interest may well linger.
Nor are Arsenal the only club said to be pursuing the 23-year-old. Chelsea are also said to be in the mix, while Real Madrid are also mentioned as holding genuine interest in a deal.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have a buyback option baked into the deal which sent Quansah to Leverkusen in 2025, although the exact amount they would have to pay is unclear – and nor is it certain that they’re interested in pursuing that option, although they have their own issues in defence, with right-back becoming something of a problem position amidst injuries and the poor form of Jeremie Frimpong, himself a former Leverkusen player.
Leverkusen have a considerable amount of leverage in any negotiations given that they have Quansah under contract until 2030, and that should allow them to extract a considerable transfer fee. The exact amount required is unknown – more, apparently, than £55m.
Whatever the numbers that might be involved, the chances that Quansah’s stay in Germany is a short one seem to be growing along with the interest from elite sides in England and Spain. But if Arsenal do want to move on from White, or if Chelsea, Liverpool or Real Madrid do decide to enter the fray, would Quansah live up to a likely hefty price tag?
Why big sides want to sign Quansah in the near future
Quansah has been in fine form since moving to Bayer Leverkusen for €35m last summerplaceholder image
Quansah has been in fine form since moving to Bayer Leverkusen for €35m last summer | Getty Images
While Quansah’s form for England hasn’t really generated the impression of a player who would be high on the shopping list of sides like Arsenal and Real Madrid, his work in Germany has been much more impressive – and he’s been among the Bundesliga’s best right-backs so far this season.
Although Quansah came through the ranks at Liverpool as a centre-back and initially played on the right of a back three with his current club, he moved to the right side of Leverkusen’s defence after they switched to a back four for the new season – and his performances have more than justified both the interest and Thomas Tuchel’s decision to call him up to the England squad.
His dynamic presence in the passing game and ability to use his pace to shuttle between attacking and defensive roles at will have been a huge asset to Leverkusen, and his positioning and judgement in the tackle have continued to improve since a fine debut campaign in the Bundesliga. He’s become a far more complete defender since leaving Liverpool.
His final ball has been impressive, too. He’s currently completing crosses at a rate of 40%, the better part of double the Premier League average. He isn’t quite delivering the ball as precisely as Trent Alexander-Arnold and has only provided one assist since the summer, against Union Berlin, but his development as an attacking asset has been noticeable. The centre-back is gradually becoming a wing-back.
There are still some rough edges to sand off, and he has struggled in one-on-one situations since moving to right-back, but he was excellent in the same situations last season, winning 60% of his ground duels in Germany. That’s close to an elite mark.
In short, Quansah is capable of operating as both a ball-playing centre-half and as an increasingly dangerous full-back. That versatility and technical profile are a rare combination. Interest from top teams is inevitable given his performances, even if he hasn’t caught fire at the international level just yet.
As it stands, it’s unlikely that Quansah moves until next summer, but sides like Arsenal could have a vacancy for a player like him – and it wouldn’t be a shock if a bidding war broke out should he continue his forward progress. He’s a better, more well-rounded player than the youngster who left Liverpool already.