Arsenal are in battle with Chelsea and Liverpool over a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jarell Quansah, according to Sport Bild, as relayed by Sport Witness.
The youngster has spent the majority of his career in English football, having come through the ranks at Liverpool’s academy at every age grade level.
He notably captained the U18 side to the 2020-21 FA Youth Cup final, the UEFA Youth League and the Premier League 2, with those standout defensive displays and leadership earning him a place on the bench on several occasions before going on loan to Bristol Rovers to gain regular playing time.
Upon his return to Anfield after impressing on loan, Quansah made his Liverpool debut on 27 August 2023, replacing Joel Matip in the 2-1 Premier League victory over Newcastle United.
He went on to make 58 more appearances for the Merseyside club and was part of Arne Slot’s 2024-25 league-winning squad, where he featured 13 times.
However, with game time decreasing coupled with the need to recoup funds, Quansah was sold to Leverkusen last summer, and he has been a regular presence at the back for the German club despite the constant changing of coaches.
It appears a potential return to England could be on the horizon, as Sport Witness, citing Sport Bild, claims that Arsenal and Chelsea are set to battle for his signature in 2027.
Battle
For Arsenal, the report adds that despite seeing their £55m bid rebuffed last summer, the Gunners remain keen on signing the 6ft 3in centre-back amid doubts over his willingness to remain at the BayArena should an offer arrive in the future.
On the other hand, Chelsea’s head coach Xabi Alonso is spearheading the club’s pursuit of the 23-year-old and has made contact over the youngster’s transfer to Stamford Bridge, according to the report.
However, the London duo are not alone in the race, with the report adding that Liverpool are also making intense efforts to re-sign Quansah, while Real Madrid hold a concrete interest in the England international and are keeping close tabs on him
In four Bundesliga appearances, Quansah, described as ‘phenomenal’ by Trent Alexander-Arnold, has completed 89.7% of his passes while also retaining his long ball threat with a 57.1% success rate.
His 3.24 recoveries per game highlight his commitment to winning the ball back for his team, which are qualities Mikel Arteta, Alonso and Andoni Iraola would love
However, with four years remaining on his contract, a deal will not be easy, as Leverkusen will likely demand a fee well above his £38m Transfermarkt valuation, especially after rejecting a £55m bid from Arsenal last summer.
