Arsenal are currently in advanced discussions with German side Bayer Leverkusen about the possible acquisition of England international defender Jarell Quansah. Manager Mikel Arteta has repeatedly expressed his desire to broaden the options available to his back line, and he regards Quansah as an ideal candidate because of the player's ability to operate comfortably both as a centre‑back and as a right‑back. Quansah, who recently returned to Leverkusen after a brief hiatus following his World Cup debut, featured in three matches for England at the tournament. His performances on the world stage have only heightened his reputation back in the Premier League.
During his first full season in the Bundesliga, the former Liverpool academy graduate made 44 appearances for Leverkusen, a clear indication that he quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff after leaving his boyhood club last summer. Arsenal will almost certainly have to outlay a sum considerably higher than the €30 million (£30 million) that Bayer Leverkusen originally paid for Quansah in July of last year.
The German club still hold four years on his contract, and according to Sky Germany they are not presently willing to entertain a sale. Adding further complexity, Liverpool have inserted a buy‑back clause into Quansah’s contract with a valuation of roughly £59.8 million (€70 million), meaning any future move will have to navigate that financial stipulation as well. While Arsenal’s interest in Quansah grows, the North London side are also monitoring Aston Villa’s 28‑year‑old defender Ezri Konsa, who shares a similar skill set. Both players can slot into a back three or a back four, covering centre‑back and right‑back duties.
Sky Sports reports that Villa’s asking price for Konsa hovers around £60 million, a figure that Arsenal have yet to match. The Gunners have not publicly indicated a willingness to meet that valuation, leaving the onus on them to persuade Villa to consider an offer. Konsa missed Villa’s recent UEFA Super Cup clash against Paris Saint‑Germain because he was still on post‑World Cup leave, underscoring the timing of Arsenal’s defensive recruitment drive.
Sam Blitz of Sky Sports highlighted the urgency of the situation: with William Saliba sidelined through injury, Arsenal lack depth at centre‑back, and the right‑back position has also been exposed. Jurrien Timber is still recovering from a persistent groin problem that has limited his involvement since March, while Ben White’s injury record has been patchy.
In the Champions League final, Cristian Mosquera was forced to start at right‑back and even conceded a penalty, illustrating the club’s need for reliable options. Given these circumstances, Quansah presents a compelling long‑term solution.
At 23, he offers both the athleticism and the tactical flexibility that Arteta’s side requires. 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 alternative over Trent Alexander‑Arnold for the summer internationals. Analyzing his passing map from his time in Germany shows that Quansah often occupied the traditional right‑back zone, providing width and contributing to build‑up play. Should Saliba return to full fitness and partner Gabriel Jesus in central defence, Quansah could compete for a place in the back line, either as a partner in the centre or as a right‑flank option.
However, Arsenal’s full‑back responsibilities differ from the conventional Bundesliga role. Both Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are frequently asked to invert inside the midfield, sometimes acting almost as auxiliary centre‑forwards, which demands a different skill set. Arteta has previously demonstrated that he can adapt more defensively minded full‑backs to his system, as seen with former Leverkusen player Piero Hincapié, who thrived in a more conservative defensive role.
This tactical flexibility suggests that Quansah could be moulded to fit Arsenal’s nuanced approach, providing solidity on the right while also offering a reliable backup for central positions. In summary, Arsenal’s pursuit of Jarell Quansah appears to be driven by a combination of immediate defensive needs and a strategic vision for the future.
The club must weigh the financial implications of meeting Leverkusen’s valuation and navigating Liverpool’s buy‑back clause against the potential long‑term benefits of securing a young, versatile English defender. Simultaneously, the parallel interest in Ezri Konsa adds another layer of negotiation, as Arsenal must decide whether to split their resources across two similar profiles or focus on a single, more adaptable talent. The upcoming fixtures – including the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 16, Premier League clashes with Coventry, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Sunderland and Brighton – will test the depth of Arteta’s squad and could influence the final decision on which defensive recruit, if any, joins the Gunners this summer.