Jarell Quansah made his England debut in the 2-0 victory over Albania on Sunday, with the defender’s decision to leave Liverpool vindicated on the “greatest day of his life.”Quansah was made to wait almost a year-and-a-half for his England debut, having first been called up in June 2024, but he was named in Thomas Tuchel’s starting lineup on Sunday.Deployed at right-back in the final game of the World Cup qualifiers, the 22-year-old played the full 90 minutes in a comfortable display as the Three Lions completed a perfect run of eight wins from eight and no goals conceded.Awarded his legacy cap by Harry Kane in the dressing room after the game, Quansah delivered an emotional speech.“This is one of the greatest days of my life.” ??Jarell Quansah receives his legacy cap from skipper @HKane after making his #ThreeLions debut! pic.twitter.com/tfGMEaq85v— England (@England) November 16, 2025“First and foremost, this is one of the greatest days of my life,” he addressed the group.“Being part of the group, obviously perfect in qualifying, means a lot to me.“I want to thank the coaching staff and all the staff for giving me the opportunity and helping me out.“Then obviously to you guys [in the squad] as well. Being part of you guys, seeing some of the lads I’ve won tournaments with and came up through the age groups with, and senior, experienced players as well.“It’s a massive honour. I’m so grateful, thank you.”Why Quansah left Liverpool: “Hundreds of games”Quansah departed Liverpool after 17 years with the club in the summer, joining Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £35 million in pursuit of regular first-team football.“I’m 22 turning 23, I’m going to be needing hundreds of games to be where I want to be at the end of the day,” he told reporters last month.“I think overall that’s just why the decision was made and why I thought going abroad was sort of best for me.”He has not only found that in Germany – starting eight of Leverkusen’s 10 Bundesliga games as well as three out of four in the Champions League – but that has opened up opportunities with England too.Having found himself unable to break the partnership of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate at Liverpool, his decision to leave has already been vindicated.Liverpool buy-back clause: Quansah’s 2027 returnBut there is a strong chance Quansah could still rejoin his boyhood club, after a buy-back clause was negotiated into the deal with Leverkusen.In the terms of their agreement, Liverpool can re-sign Quansah for €60 million (£52.9m) when the clause becomes active in the summer of 2027.By that point he will still only be 24 but will have played two full seasons in the Bundesliga and Champions League with Leverkusen along with further experience with England.Van Dijk’s contract is due to expire in 2027 while Konate could leave the club as early as next summer with no extension to his current deal agreed as of yet.That could provide a pathway for Quansah to return, with the Mail‘s Lewis Steele reporting in September that the centre-back has already agreed a provisional contract with Liverpool.