Quansah: Leaving Liverpool to join Leverkusen was a no-brainer for my career

Jobe Quansah has spoken candidly about his decision to leave Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen, describing the move as a straightforward choice for his career progression. The 22-year-old defender, who made 31 appearances for the Reds last season, decided that regular first-team football in the Bundesliga was preferable to fighting for minutes at Anfield.

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"It was a no-brainer for me," Quansah said in his first interview since completing the move. "I needed to play week in, week out. Liverpool is an incredible club, but I wasn't going to get that consistency there. Leverkusen offered me exactly what I needed."

The young centre-back had attracted interest from several clubs across Europe following his impressive performances for Liverpool, where he featured in both Premier League and Champions League matches. However, it was Leverkusen's project under Xabi Alonso that convinced him.

"The way the team plays, the coaching staff, the ambition of the club - it all aligned with what I wanted for my career," Quansah explained. "Xabi Alonso has created something special here. I want to be part of that."

Quansah's departure marks another Academy graduate choosing development over prestige, following a trend of young British players seeking opportunities abroad. His £25 million move represents a significant fee for a player who progressed through Liverpool's youth system.

At Leverkusen, Quansah joins a side that secured Champions League football last season and continues to build on their remarkable campaign that saw them push Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title. He is expected to compete for a starting place alongside Edmond Alvarez and Odilon Kossounou in the heart of the defense.