Arsenal are currently in advanced discussions with German side Bayer Leverkusen about the possible acquisition of England international defender Jarell Quansah. Mikel Arteta has expressed a clear desire to broaden his defensive options, and he regards Quansah as an ideal fit because of the young defender's ability to operate both as a centre‑back and as a right‑back. Quansah, who returned to Leverkusen after a brief hiatus following his debut at the World Cup, featured in three matches for England during the tournament.
In his inaugural season in the Bundesliga he amassed 44 appearances after leaving his boyhood club Liverpool last summer, quickly establishing himself as a regular starter. His performances have impressed the German club, and they appear reluctant to let the 23‑year‑old go, especially given his mature attitude and swift adaptation to life in Germany.
Should Arsenal succeed in their pursuit, they will likely need to meet a valuation that exceeds the roughly £30 million that Leverkusen paid for Quansah in July of the previous year. The defender still has four years remaining on his contract, and the German side is expected to demand a premium to release him. Adding another layer of complexity, Liverpool have inserted a buy‑back clause in Quansah’s contract, reportedly worth around £59.8 million (€70 million), which could affect any future negotiations.
In parallel with the Quansah saga, Arsenal have also been linked with Aston Villa centre‑back Ezri Konsa, who shares a similar profile to the England defender. Both players are comfortable playing at right‑back as well as in the heart of the defence. However, Sky Sports reports that there is a significant gap between the valuations of the two clubs. Villa are said to be asking for approximately £60 million for the 28‑year‑old, who still has two years left on his contract.
So far Arsenal have not signalled a willingness to meet that figure, leaving the decision in their hands. Konsa was absent from Villa’s squad for the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint‑Germain, as he remains on a post‑World‑Cup break.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s defensive depth has been tested by injuries. With William Saliba sidelined, the club urgently needs cover at centre‑back, but the problem is not limited to the middle of the defence.
Right‑back remains a vulnerable area: Jurrien Timber is still recovering from a lingering groin issue, and Ben White’s injury record is far from reassuring. In the recent Champions League final, Cristian Mosquera was forced to start at right‑back out of position and even conceded a penalty in Budapest.
These circumstances have intensified Arsenal’s interest in both Konsa and Quansah. While Villa’s asking price for Konsa appears steep, Quansah could potentially fill both the centre‑back and right‑back vacancies, offering a longer‑term solution at a possibly lower cost. Although primarily a centre‑back, Quansah was deployed on the right side of a back three at Leverkusen last season, a role that caught the eye of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who selected him as a right‑back option for the national team, even ahead of Trent Alexander‑Arnold. Analyzing his passing map for Leverkusen shows that Quansah often occupied the traditional right‑back zone, meaning that once Saliba regains full fitness to partner Gabriel Jesus in central defence, the young Englishman would still have a clear pathway to compete for a place on the flank.
However, the full‑back role at Arsenal differs from the conventional duties he performed in Germany. Arteta frequently asks his full‑backs, particularly Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, to invert and drift inside the midfield, sometimes even acting as auxiliary centre‑forwards. This tactical nuance could require Quansah to adapt his game, but Arteta has previously demonstrated flexibility with more defensively‑oriented full‑backs, as seen with former Leverkusen player Piero Hincapié. Beyond the transfer speculation, Arsenal’s upcoming schedule is packed.
The Gunners will open the season with the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 16 in Cardiff. Their Premier League campaign begins at home against Coventry on August 21, followed by a trip to Aston Villa on August 31.
September brings fixtures against Chelsea at home, Sunderland away, and Brighton away, with kick‑off times ranging from 3 pm to 8 pm. In summary, Arsenal are actively pursuing Jarell Quansah as a versatile defensive recruit who could address multiple gaps in their back line.
While Leverkusen may demand a price above the original £30 million outlay and Liverpool’s buy‑back clause adds another variable, the potential benefits for Arteta’s side are substantial. Simultaneously, the club continues to monitor Ezri Konsa, though Villa’s valuation remains a stumbling block. With several key defenders injured and a demanding early‑season fixture list looming, the outcome of these transfer talks could play a pivotal role in shaping Arsenal’s defensive stability for the 2024‑25 campaign.