Jarell Quansah could have been lining up for Newcastle rather than against them with Bayer Leverkusen
11:00, 10 Dec 2025Updated 11:35, 10 Dec 2025
Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah (C) challenges England team-mate Phil Foden of Manchester City (R)(Image: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)
When Jarell Quansah lines up for Bayer Leverkusen this evening against Newcastle United he could well be pondering whether he could have been lining up for them instead.
The 22-year-old England international defender joined the Bundesliga giants in the summer from Liverpool and has quickly took to life in Germany.
It has been a good move so far for the player. Quansah has gone on to establish himself as a regular in Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squads and he has already made 18 appearances for his new club.
Having burst on to the scene at Liverpool, though, Newcastle had taken an interest in the young defender, who can play as a centre-back or a right-back. Last summer, particularly, United held a keen interest and there was even talk he could have moved to St James’ Park in a controversial swap deal that would have seen Anthony Gordon move in the other direction.
As Newcastle were scrapping about in June 2024 to raise funds through player sales to avoid a possible sanction for breaking profit and sustainability rules (PSR), the idea was floated to the Reds.
In the end, Liverpool turned down the proposal, both players remained at their respective clubs, and Newcastle brought in the required funds through the sales of Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest and Yankuba Minteh to Brighton, as well as agreeing a compensation fee for sporting director Dan Ashworth to join Manchester United.
Fast forward a year and despite winning the Premier League title at Anfield, Quansah was sold to Leverkusen for £35million. Five months on, it is a move he is happy he has made.
“I had the opportunity to prove myself here [at Leverkusen] and I’m super happy that I made the move,” the centre-back told BBC Sport.
“You can’t live the game of football with regrets. Anything could have happened at Liverpool and I had to focus on what I wanted to do and what I felt was best.
“The feeling I got from Leverkusen was everything I needed for my development. It’s not about this year or next year – it’s about where I’m going to be when I reach the top of my level. I thought the best way of doing that was by taking a step abroad.”
Now Quansah will line up against Newcastle and will be plotting their downfall in the Champions League this evening.
Leverkusen head into the game a point adrift of the Magpies and know a win will see them leapfrog United in the table. Quansah will be doing everything in his power to ensure just that, but admitted he will need to try and stop dangerman Nick Woltermade.
“He’s unorthodox, sort of like Peter Crouch, a traditional sort of taller striker, good at holding up the ball and good in the box – but you feel he’s got a lot more to his game than that,” added Quansah in the build-up to the match. “He’s a really good player and someone we need to look out for.”
Quansah actually made his Liverpool debut at St James’ Park and also faced Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final earlier this year, so knows exactly what to expect.
“I feel like I’ve always played them in a big game,” he said. “I played them on my debut, played them in a final, it’s always a massive game.
“They are a really front foot team, direct but with good players as well. A lot of intensity so we will need to live up to that, match them and do more to be honest as I think our last game we weren’t where we want to be.”
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Newcastle United continue their UEFA Champions League campaign as they face Bayer Leverkusen on December 10. Fans can watch the game on the TNT Sports Prime Video channel.