Arsenal have turned to a 23-year-old England international, Jarell Quansah, after William Saliba’s injury, with talks now open for a move from Bayer Leverkusen. The Daily Mail first reported Arsenal’s contact with the defender’s representatives, while Sky Sports and The Guardian have since confirmed that Arsenal have opened discussions with Leverkusen. The German club do not want to sell a player signed last summer, although reports differ on the original fee, placing it around £30m-£35m.
Jarell Quansah to Arsenal talks centre on a defender who made 44 appearances for Leverkusen in 2025/26, scoring five times in all competitions. DFB records confirm 28 Bundesliga appearances and four league goals, while Leverkusen’s own figures list 44 matches and five goals. He signed a contract running to 2030 and won the 2025 Under-21 European Championship before establishing himself with England.
Jarell Quansah Arsenal: Why the fit makes sense
For Arteta, this is less about adding another centre-back and more about restoring options across a damaged defensive unit. Saliba faces a lengthy absence with a back problem, Jurriën Timber has a groin issue, and Ben White is returning from a knee ligament problem. That leaves Arsenal short of players who can handle right-sided defensive duties without forcing changes elsewhere. That matters for Arsenal’s immediate defensive planning.
Quansah has the profile. He is comfortable centrally, has played at right-back for England, and offers the passing quality Arsenal demand in the first phase. One statistic in the supplied reference needs correcting: the claimed 92% passing rate is not supported by Kicker, which records 90% completed passes in the Bundesliga. That remains an excellent figure for a young defender, alongside his 40 starts in 44 matches.
Jarell Quansah Arsenal talks face one major obstacle
The difficulty is price and leverage. Aston Villa reportedly value Ezri Konsa at £60m, making Quansah a logical alternative on age and versatility. Yet Leverkusen have little reason to help Arsenal. They gave Quansah a five-year deal last summer, and his first season included 11 Champions League appearances plus DFB-Pokal involvement.
Thomas Tuchel trusted Quansah at the 2026 World Cup, where he started three matches before a red card against Mexico brought a two-game FIFA suspension. England finished third. Liverpool’s buy-back option has expired, removing that route back to Anfield.
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Still, Arsenal would need to pay a serious premium for a player Leverkusen regard as a long-term asset. That makes Arsenal’s negotiations for Jarell Quansah sensible, but far from straightforward.
