Leaving Liverpool sealed World Cup spot: Quansah
Jarrell Quansah swapped Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen last year, and he believes that decision was crucial in him making England's 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Quansah joined Bayer Leverkusen last year in a €40.7 million ($66.8 million) deal.
The defender played 58 times for Liverpool in all competitions, but fell down the pecking order under Arne Slot, who was sacked as the Reds' coach at the end of the season.
Quansah has been a hit at Leverkusen, though, featuring 44 times and making 40 starts for thew Bundesliga side, and his form saw him called up by England head coach Thomas Tuchel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 23-year-old has no regrets over his decision to leave Liverpool in search of regular minutes.
"Last summer it was a really tough decision, to be honest, to walk away from my boyhood club – a club I've been at all my life," he said.
"But I just knew it was the best thing that I needed for my career, to be playing week in, week out.
"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.
"To be rewarded by being selected for the [FIFA] 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.
"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."
Quansah has been a regular in Tuchel's squads since the German took charge of England in January 2025, although he has played only three times for his country at senior level.
He did, however, play a key role in England's success at the Under-21 UEFA European championship in 2025.
"He [Tuchel] watched the final," Quansah said.
"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.
"He's always been directed and very honest with you – all you can ask from a manager."
