Jarell Quansah Arsenal Transfer: Gunners Open Talks With Bayer Leverkusen
Arsenal have opened talks with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen over a potential deal to sign England international Jarell Quansah, according to Sky Sports News, as manager Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his defensive options before the transfer window closes.
The move comes with Arsenal facing a defensive crisis at the start of the new season, having lost both William Saliba and Jurrien Timber to injury. Saliba, who picked up a long-term back issue at the World Cup, is not expected to return before the end of the year, while Timber continues to recover from a groin problem. The Gunners are keen to add cover across the backline before the Premier League campaign gets fully underway, with the season’s opening fixtures just around the corner.
Quansah, 23, only joined Bayer Leverkusen from Liverpool last summer in a deal worth around £30-35 million, but has quickly established himself as a key figure for the German club, making 44 appearances in his debut season and even scoring on his Bundesliga bow. His versatility, capable of playing both centre-back and right-back, makes him an attractive option for Arteta as he looks to address gaps in multiple defensive positions simultaneously. Last season, only seven Bundesliga players scored more goals from set-plays than Quansah, who netted four times in 28 league appearances.
The England defender was part of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad this summer, making three appearances for the Three Lions, though a red card in the last-16 win over Mexico saw him ruled out of the quarter-finals and semi-finals before he returned to start the third-place playoff win over France.
Despite Arsenal’s interest, Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly not keen on selling Quansah, having been impressed by his performances in the Bundesliga and his mature adaptation to a new footballing environment. Sky Sports in Germany reports that the club does not currently consider him for sale, meaning Arsenal would likely need to offer significantly more than the roughly £30 million Leverkusen paid for him last July to prise him away, especially with four years still remaining on his contract in Germany.
Adding further complexity to any potential deal, Liverpool inserted a buy-back clause into the agreement that took Quansah to Germany, reportedly allowing them to re-sign their academy graduate for around £59.8 million (€70 million) this summer, or a reduced £51.3 million (€60 million) in 2027. While there were no immediate plans to trigger that option and it is understood to have now expired for this window, developments in Quansah’s situation could still shift the landscape and put Liverpool on alert.
Arsenal have also been exploring other defensive targets this summer, including Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, though the Midlands club’s valuation of around £60 million has proven a sticking point in negotiations. With Villa reluctant to lower their asking price and Leverkusen similarly unwilling to sanction an easy departure for Quansah, Arteta’s side may need to move quickly and decisively to secure defensive reinforcements before the transfer deadline, with other names such as Tottenham’s Cristian Romero and Como’s Jans also reportedly on the club’s radar.
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