Origins: Jarell Quansah

Written by:

Jarell Quansah

The Three Lions defender takes us through his footballing journey, from Woolston Rovers to the world stage

I’ve been obsessed with football ever since I could run. It’s just second nature to me.

My first memory was when I was four years old. I was playing for the age group above and got battered about 20-0! I remember being out of my depth but still enjoying it.

My grandad was a footballer – he played for the national team in Ghana. He remembered every goal he scored. It was always good to hear what it was like from a different generation, what it was like coming over from Ghana to England. I’m grateful he could impose his wisdom on me.

My dad was really passionate about football, as well. And my brothers who are all older than me also played, so it was quite an easy passage into football.

I started out at Woolston Rovers. It was really good – we had a nice team there. My dad became manager of the team and played me which helped! He was quite hard on me.

There were some games where we were losing and he’d take me off. I’d be crying saying ‘why am I not playing?’ but it was all for the greater good. I remember one game he didn’t start me and I wasn’t happy, but he said I’d come on at half time. I did, scored three goals, and we won the game.

I had a strike partnership with one of my best mates at the time. I remember back then in the Premier League you had Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe – as kids you envisage yourself as them.

Quansah made his senior England debut in a 2-0 victory over Albania in November 2025

I also played a game for my brother’s team – Birchwood – but other than that it was always Woolston Rovers.

When you’re young you just do what you enjoy. Going out and playing with your mates, whether it’s just two people or 20, you still have the best time. No matter the age group, it brings communities together, and helps you enjoy life with siblings and friends.

I was obsessed with football so would always watch games. That Premier League era was great.

(Cristiano) Ronaldo was in the league at the time, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand – I could name loads. When you’re young, you think you’re a striker, and the next week you’re a centre back, so you just love watching everyone.

My first experience with England was the under-15s camp. It was a massive group of 30-40 players.

In the under-16s, you play against your first national team – I played against Holland, which was a really good game. We had a lot of good players in that age group at the time. I only have fond memories of it.

The defender was a member of England's UEFA U21 EURO-winning squad in 2025

I won the U19 EUROs with England in 2022. As under-19s we had so much passion in us to go and win. The feeling of winning in that tournament was one of the best I’ve felt.

The group was so together. There’s lads here now [in the senior team] who were in that team, so it’s good to see that pathway there for players to make their full England debuts.

It was the first time I’d been away from my family for a full month to play football. It was a really good time and I still smile about it now.

Winning the U21 EUROs was top. It was a really hard tournament, even just to qualify, with it being a two-year qualifying campaign. When we won, we just felt all that relief and joy.

To make my senior debut, it had been a long time coming because I’d had quite a few camps and I was waiting for my moment. The coach gave me a start and it was a dream come true.

You perhaps don’t realise in the moment but when you reflect, you realise how big it is. I’m thankful to the players around me for making it so easy.

Origins: Jarell Quansah

The Three Lions defender takes us through his footballing journey, from Woolston Rovers to the world stage

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