Quansah explains Liverpool exit: I needed more game time

Jarell Quansah has opened up on his decision to leave Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen, admitting that a lack of game time under Arne Slot prompted his summer move.

The 22-year-old defender, who came through Liverpool’s academy and made 58 senior appearances, struggled for minutes last season, starting just four Premier League games.

After being taken off at half-time in Slot’s first competitive match “for tactical reasons,” Quansah did not start another league fixture until December.

The centre-back starred for England in their Under-21 European Championship triumph in the summer.

Quansah completed a €40.7m (£35m) move to Leverkusen in July, and has already found more regular opportunities, featuring in all nine of their competitive fixtures so far this season.

“Being able to do that has been so good for my career. It has always been a big part of it,” he said.

“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.”

Quansah has been called up to the senior squad on five occasions — by Gareth Southgate, Lee Carsley, and Thomas Tuchel — but is still awaiting his debut.

“It’s not a strange feeling, I’m really delighted to be here,” he said.

“It’s always a huge honour to get called up and I’m thankful to the manager for that as well. It’s always about learning from the senior players who have more caps than I do. Hopefully it’s something I will achieve — a cap for England.”

England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before heading to Latvia for a World Cup qualifier next week.