Arsenal Battle Liverpool for £64m Bayer Leverkusen Star Jarell Quansah

Arsenal and Liverpool set for £64m summer battle over Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah

Arsenal are prepared to rival Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jarell Quansah, according to Ekrem Konur. The Bundesliga side rejected an initial Gunners bid and will demand roughly £64m for the 23-year-old Englishman, who Liverpool sold to Leverkusen in 2025 and hold a buyback clause for.

Player: Jarell Quansah, 23, Bayer Leverkusen centre-back
Fee: Around £64m, after an initial Arsenal bid was turned down
Key clause: Liverpool hold a buyback option, amount unknown, from the 2025 sale
Interested clubs: Arsenal and Liverpool
Window outlook: January window is just over three months away
Source: Ekrem Konur, as reported by Football Talk

Deal details

Arsenal have identified Quansah as a defensive target and have already had an initial bid rejected by Bayer Leverkusen. The German club's stance is clear: they will let the defender leave for approximately £64m, a figure that would represent a major profit on the fee they paid Liverpool in 2025.

Liverpool's position is complicated by a buyback clause inserted when they sold Quansah to Leverkusen in 2025. According to Konur, the exact value of that buyback option remains unknown, but it would be no surprise if the Reds strongly consider bringing the Englishman back to Anfield. That clause gives Liverpool a structural advantage in any negotiation, even if Arsenal are willing to match Leverkusen's asking price.

Arsenal have tracked Quansah since earlier in the summer and their renewed interest comes with the January transfer window just over three months away. The Gunners are understood to be exploring the market for a defender who can compete across the back line, and Quansah fits that profile.

Injury and availability

At Arsenal, Jurrien Timber spent much of the summer injured and has yet to gain full match fitness. That ongoing concern leaves Mikel Arteta short of fully sharp defensive options. Ben White's future at the club has been speculated about from time to time, and the former Brighton & Hove Albion man is also seen as offering very little going forward.

For Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk's age is a factor in their thinking, while Jeremie Frimpong's form at right back and a general lack of depth in defence could push the Reds towards a move for their former player.

Why Quansah fits both Arsenal and Liverpool

Jarell Quansah stands six feet and three inches tall, giving him the physical presence to cope with the Premier League's aerial demands. What makes him unusual is his versatility: as well as playing centre-back, he is an effective right back. That dual role explains why two of England's biggest clubs are circling.

On the ball, Quansah carries it well, has rapid pace and plays accurate progressive passes. That profile suits Arsenal, who ask their defenders to step into midfield and break lines. It also suits Liverpool, who rely on their back line to defend large spaces and start attacks quickly from deep. For Mikel Arteta, a defender who can cover right back would reduce the reliance on Ben White and offer insurance while Jurrien Timber builds match fitness. For Liverpool, the appeal is different: Virgil van Dijk's age means the club must plan for the future, and Jeremie Frimpong's form at right back has not fully settled that position.

Without the ball, Quansah is strong in one-on-one situations and aerially, and reads the game well to thwart opposition attacks. Those attributes are exactly what Arsenal want in a defender who may be asked to defend wide areas as well as the box. The 23-year-old's age also fits Arsenal's recruitment model: young enough to improve, experienced enough to contribute immediately after a productive spell in the Bundesliga.

The complicating factor is minutes. Liverpool may hold the upper hand over Arsenal for his signing because Quansah might be more receptive to joining the Reds, where he would play more regularly on Merseyside compared to London, where competition for places in defence is already significant. Arsenal already have a crowded defensive department, and adding another body would require careful management of playing time. At Liverpool, the pathway looks clearer.

The buyback clause is the decisive variable. If Liverpool's option is below Leverkusen's £64m asking price, Arsenal would need to outbid the clause's value or persuade Quansah that his future is better served in London. If the buyback figure is high or expires, then the race becomes a straight financial fight between two clubs who rarely lose out to each other in the market. Either way, Leverkusen hold the strongest hand: they have a player under contract, a rejected bid already on the table, and a clear valuation.

Talking points

Arsenal already have Ben White, Jurrien Timber and William Saliba; spending £64m on another defender would raise serious questions about who leaves and when.
Liverpool's buyback clause is the smartest piece of business in this saga — they sold Quansah, watched him develop, and now hold first refusal on a homegrown talent.
If Quansah prefers regular minutes, Anfield is the obvious choice; Arsenal's rotation risk is real and could decide the race before a fee is even agreed.
Leverkusen rejected an initial Arsenal bid and are holding firm at £64m; any club that wants him early in January will have to pay the premium.

What happens next

The January transfer window is just over three months away, and Arsenal's rejected bid means the next move is theirs: either improve the offer towards £64m or wait and risk Liverpool activating their buyback clause. Liverpool must decide whether to use that clause, and how much of a priority a centre-back is given Virgil van Dijk's age and the general lack of defensive depth. Leverkusen, meanwhile, have no need to sell quickly — they have already shown they will turn down Arsenal once. The club that moves first in January will likely land a 23-year-old England-eligible defender who can cover two positions.

Frequently asked questions

Are Arsenal signing Jarell Quansah?

Not yet. Arsenal are interested and have had an initial bid turned down, according to Ekrem Konur. Bayer Leverkusen are expected to let him go for roughly £64m, with the January window just over three months away.

Do Liverpool have a buyback clause for Jarell Quansah?

Yes. Liverpool sold Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen in 2025 and hold a buyback clause, though the exact amount has not been reported. It would be no surprise if the Reds strongly consider re-signing him.

Why would Liverpool beat Arsenal to Jarell Quansah?

Liverpool may hold the upper hand because Quansah could play more regularly at Anfield than in London, where Arsenal already have significant competition for minutes in defence. The buyback clause adds to their advantage.