Arsenal are reportedly in active discussions with German side Bayer Leverkusen about securing the services of England international defender Jarell Quansah. Manager Mikel Arteta has expressed a clear desire to broaden his defensive options, and he views Quansah as a highly attractive prospect because of the young defender's ability to operate both as a centre‑back and as a right‑back.
Quansah, who recently returned to Leverkusen after a brief hiatus following his debut at the World Cup, featured in three matches for England during the tournament. His performances on the world stage have only heightened interest in his future, and Arsenal see him as a player who can add depth and versatility to a back line that has suffered a number of injury setbacks.
The 23‑year‑old spent his first full season in the Bundesliga making 44 appearances for Leverkusen after leaving his boyhood club Liverpool in the summer of 2022. During that campaign he quickly established himself as a regular starter, impressing with his composure on the ball, his aerial ability and his willingness to cover the flank when required.
Those qualities have not gone unnoticed in north London, where Artetta’s coaching staff have been tracking his development closely. Financially, Arsenal would likely have to outlay a sum considerably higher than the €30 million (£30 million) that Bayer Leverkusen paid for Quansah last July. The defender still has four years left on his contract, and Leverkusen have publicly stated that they do not consider him to be for sale at this stage, according to reports from Sky in Germany.
Adding to the complexity, Liverpool inserted a buy‑back clause into the original transfer agreement, valued at roughly £59.8 million (€70 million), which could influence any future negotiations. While Arsenal’s attention is focused on Quansah, the club is also monitoring Aston Villa’s centre‑back Ezri Konsa, another England‑capped defender who shares a similar profile. Both players are comfortable playing across the back four, and both can slot into a three‑man defence as well.
However, there appears to be a substantial valuation gap between Arsenal and Villa for Konsa. The Villa side is said to be asking around £60 million for the 28‑year‑old, who still has two years remaining on his deal. To date, Arsenal have not indicated a willingness to meet that price, leaving the onus on the Gunners to persuade Villa to lower their expectations.
Konsa missed Villa’s recent UEFA Super Cup clash with Paris Saint‑Germain because he is still on a post‑World Cup holiday, which has kept him out of the spotlight for the moment. Meanwhile, Sam Blitz of Sky Sports highlighted Arsenal’s defensive dilemmas: with William Saliba sidelined through injury, the club needs immediate cover at centre‑back, and the right‑back position has also been a point of concern. Jurrien Timber is still battling a lingering groin problem that has limited his involvement since March, and Ben White’s injury history has not been reassuring.
In the Champions League final, Cristian Mosquera was forced to start at right‑back and even conceded a penalty, underscoring the need for a reliable option on that flank. In this context, Quansah emerges as a potentially more cost‑effective solution than Konsa. While Konsa is a proven Premier League defender, Quansah’s age, versatility and recent exposure on the international stage make him an appealing long‑term investment. Primarily a centre‑back, he was deployed on the right side of a back three at Leverkusen last season, a role that caught the eye of Thomas Tuchel, who selected him as one of England’s right‑back options for the summer – a decision that effectively saw him chosen over Trent Alexander‑Arnold.
Analyzing his passing map from his time in Germany reveals that Quansah frequently occupied the traditional right‑back zone, meaning he is comfortable defending wide areas, delivering crosses and contributing to build‑up play. Should Saliba return to full fitness and resume his partnership with Gabriel Jesus (now a centre‑back in Arsenal’s system), Quansah would still have a realistic chance of earning playing time, either as a backup centre‑back or as a specialist right‑back. It is worth noting, however, that Arsenal’s full‑back role differs from the conventional duties seen in the Bundesliga.
Under Artetta, full‑backs such as Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are often asked to invert and operate as auxiliary midfielders or even hybrid centre‑forwards, creating overloads in central areas. This tactical nuance means that a full‑back must possess strong ball‑carrying ability, positional intelligence and the stamina to cover both defensive and offensive duties.
Artetta’s previous experience with former Leverkusen player Piero Hincapié shows that he can also deploy more defensively‑oriented full‑backs when the situation demands, suggesting that Quansah’s defensive solidity could be a valuable asset. Looking ahead, Arsenal’s schedule is packed with high‑profile fixtures.
The season opens with a Community Shield clash against Manchester City on August 16 in Cardiff, followed by a series of Premier League games against Coventry, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Sunderland and Brighton throughout August and September. The intensity of this early calendar amplifies the need for squad depth, particularly in defence, where injuries can quickly derail a campaign. In summary, Arsenal’s pursuit of Jarell Quansah reflects a strategic effort to reinforce a back line that has been plagued by injuries and positional uncertainty.
While the financial hurdle remains significant, the potential upside—an adaptable, young English defender with both domestic and international experience—could justify the investment. If the Gunners can negotiate a deal that satisfies Bayer Leverkusen’s valuation and navigates Liverpool’s buy‑back clause, Quansah could become a key component of Artetta’s plans, providing cover at centre‑back, competition for the right‑back spot, and a long‑term solution to the club’s defensive challenges.