Jarrell Quansah believes leaving Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen has given the best chance of reaching England's World Cup squad. The 23-year-old defender has impressed in Germany, earning a call-up from Thomas Tuchel. Quansah says regular club football across the last year is the key reason behind this progress with England.
Since Tuchel became England manager in January 2025, Quansah has been a frequent member of national squads. The defender has three senior caps so far, yet remains in contention for more World Cup minutes. Quansah sees this as a reward for consistent displays at club level with Leverkusen.
Quansah joined Bayer Leverkusen last year in a transfer worth 40.7m (35m). Before the move, the defender played 58 matches for Liverpool
in all competitions. Under Arne Slot, Quansah slipped down the defensive order, which reduced opportunities for regular starts at Anfield.
The switch to the Bundesliga has brought a much larger role. Quansah has featured 44 times for Leverkusen, starting 40 of those games. The increased responsibility has sharpened match sharpness, which Quansah links directly to selection for England's World Cup squad and growing trust from Tuchel.
| Club | Competition level | Appearances | Starts | Transfer fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | All competitions | 58 | Not specified | – |
| Bayer Leverkusen | All competitions | 44 | 40 | 40.7m (35m) |
Quansah insists there is no doubt about leaving Liverpool to secure regular football. "Last summer it was a really tough decision, to be honest, to walk away from my boyhood cluba club I've been at all my life," he said, as reported by ESPN. "But I just knew it was the best thing that I needed for my career, to be playing week in, week out. "
The defender explains that confidence in personal ability shaped that choice. "People who know me know I back myself no matter what and I feel like I'm capable of playing at the highest level and I wanted to show that this season. " Quansah views Leverkusen as the platform to prove that belief against strong opposition each week.
Selection for the World Cup squad is viewed as recognition of that step. "To be rewarded by being selected for the World Cup is an absolute honour and it's all down to the hard work that I've put in over the past 12 months. " Quansah says constant minutes in Germany have sharpened decision-making and consistency under pressure.
Quansah also talks about steady improvement through regular game time. "I feel like with every game I play, I'm getting better. " "I'm only young, so as long as I keep my head down, I keep grafting away, I know I'm going to be in a good place. " "It's just sticking to what I know and sticking to the goals that I've set myself and hopefully I can achieve everything I want. "
Jarrell Quansah England World Cup role under Thomas Tuchel
Quansah's connection with Tuchel dates back to performances at youth level. The defender played a major part in England's Under-21s European Championship triumph last year. "He [Tuchel] watched the final," Quansah said. That display helped underline Quansah's readiness for senior opportunities when Tuchel later took charge.
Quansah feels the Under-21s environment offered a clear pathway. "Obviously, there's always an incentive when you're at the Under-21s, you've seen so many players moving up through the age groups and if you're performing for the club, you're going to be in and around it and for the first team, that's just the nature of the job. "
Working with Tuchel at senior level has reinforced that impression. "He's always been directed and very honest with youall you can ask from a manager. " For Quansah, this direct feedback, combined with a regular role at Bayer Leverkusen, has created a stable platform to push for more England minutes during the World Cup and beyond.
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