English defender Jarell Quansah says his decision to leave Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen was driven by a desire for regular first-team football after enduring a frustrating spell under manager Arne Slot.
The 22-year-old, who came through Liverpool’s academy system, made 58 senior appearances but featured sparingly in the Premier League last season.
Born in England to a Ghanaian father, Quansah had long been regarded as one of Liverpool’s brightest defensive prospects.
However, his development stalled when Slot opted to limit his involvement, starting him only four times in the league.
His final league start came in the Dutchman’s first competitive game, where he was replaced at half-time for “tactical reasons.”
Leverkusen secured Quansah’s services in July for a reported £35 million, ending his seven-year association with the Reds.
The centre-back believes the move to Germany was necessary to advance his career.
“I have been learning from some of the best players around me at the time at Liverpool,” Quansah said.
“Being able to do that has been so good for my career. At this part of my career, 22 turning 23, 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.”
The young defender, who lifted the European Under-21 Championship with England earlier this year, has been called up to five senior England squads under three different managers — Gareth Southgate, Lee Carsley and Thomas Tuchel — but is yet to earn his first cap.
“It is always a huge honour to get called up,” Quansah said. “Hopefully it is something I will achieve, a cap for England.”
England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before visiting Latvia for a World Cup qualifier next week.
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