Jarell Quansah says his decision to leave Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen was driven by a desire for more regular first-team football after feeling sidelined under new manager Arne Slot.
The 22-year-old defender, who rose through Liverpool’s academy, made 58 senior appearances for the club before departing Anfield in the summer.
Despite being viewed as one of the Reds’ brightest young prospects, Quansah started only four Premier League games last season – and his standing suffered further when he was substituted at half-time in Slot’s first competitive match in charge for “tactical reasons.”
He did not start another league fixture until December and ultimately decided to seek a fresh challenge abroad.
Leverkusen paid £35 million to secure his services in July, offering the centre-back a new opportunity to play regular football at the top level.
“I have been learning from some of the best players around me at the time at Liverpool,” Quansah said.
Jarell Quansah hopes to be at the World Cup with England after being named in Thomas Tuchel's latest squad🏆👀 pic.twitter.com/uCHNPTdY78
“Being able to do that has been so good for my career. It has always been a big part of it. At this part of my career, 22 turning 23 [in January], I need hundreds of games to be where I want to be.
“I think overall that’s why the decision was made and why I thought going abroad was best for me.”
Having developed under Jurgen Klopp and now adapting to life in the Bundesliga, Quansah has continued his rise after a standout summer in which he helped England win the European Under-21 Championship.
Despite being called up to five senior England squads by Gareth Southgate, Lee Carsley, and Thomas Tuchel, Quansah is still waiting for his first international cap.
However, he insists he is relishing the experience and eager to make his breakthrough.
“It is not a strange feeling, I’m really delighted to be here,” he said. “It is always a huge honour to get called up and I’m thankful for the manager for that as well. It is always about learning from the senior players who have more caps than I do.
“Hopefully it is something I will achieve, a cap for England.”
England will face Wales at Wembley on Thursday in a friendly before travelling to Latvia next Tuesday for a World Cup qualifier – and Quansah could be in line to make his long-awaited debut.
