Jarell Quansah staves off rival interest as Liverpool prediction comes true

Jarell Quansah has been handed a shock first England call-up ahead of Euro 2024.

The Liverpool is a surprise inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s preliminary squad for this summer’s European Championships.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed an impressive breakthrough season with the Reds, making 33 appearances, of which 17 came in the Premier League, and scoring three goals. Meanwhile, he would finish the season as first-choice under Jurgen Klopp alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.

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Having finished last season on loan at Bristol Rovers in League One, it has been a meteoric rise for the defender who only made his England Under-21s debut in October 2023.

With his grandfather a former Ghana international, Quansah is also eligible to play for the Black Stars - as well as Scotland and Barbados. But despite interest from the African country in securing his allegiance, he was only interested in representing England and has always been wanted to represent the Three Lions at a senior level.

He had even confirmed such a fact to the ECHO and other media outlets back in March when away with England Under-21s, hinting he was eyeing a senior international call-up after seeing Southgate call upon a number of Young Lions this season.

“It’s good to see all them get the opportunity as well,” he said at the time. “Hopefully they can take the opportunity because again it gives us belief that we can go on and do the same.

“Definitely something when you’re younger you have all these aspirations, sometimes stupid aspirations of being the best player in the world. I think just being able to be in the position I’m in at the minute and learn from some of the best managers and players in the world hopefully puts me in good stead for the future and hopefully I do take steps in my career.

“That is the goal, to be a starting centre-back for Liverpool and be in contention from England.

“It’s so good because I’ve been through the age groups in every year and to be able to represent your country is a great honour. Probably the best honour you can get as a footballer because realistically you’re up there with the best in the country so that’s always a good confidence booster to see where you are against other nations and compete for international trophies.”

Just two months on, Quansah had already established himself as a starting centre-back for Liverpool. And now he has also been rewarded with a maiden senior call-up also. He will now look to impress Southgate while part of the expanded squad, and could make a senior international debut as he looks to earn a place in the final squad for Euro 2024.

Southgate’s side play friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 3 at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park and against Iceland on June 7 at Wembley, with England’s final 26-man squad set to be confirmed after the latter.

Elsewhere, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is a surprise omission from Southgate’s preliminary squad, though, like Quansah, Reds midfielder Curtis Jones has also been handed a first call-up. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez are also both included in the 33-man preliminary squad.