Jarell Quansah pays tribute to Diogo Jota with goal on Bundesliga debut

August 23, 2025
•
Joanna Durkan

Jarell Quansah scored six minutes into his Bundesliga debut with Bayer Leverkusen, with the former Liverpool defender celebrating with a tribute to Diogo Jota.

After nearly 17 years at Anfield, Quansah closed his Liverpool chapter to join Erik ten Hag’s Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £35 million.

He left a positive first impression in his first pre-season appearance against 2.Bundesliga outfit Bochum and backed that up with a goal against Fortuna Sittard.

As the right-sided centre-back in a back three, Quansah has settled in quickly at Leverkusen and scored his side’s first goal of the new Bundesliga season inside six minutes against Hoffenheim.

Jarell Quansah | ?? Leverkusen 1-0 Hoffenheim

Jarell Quansah scores with headerpic.twitter.com/ZKZxIAFEvd

— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) August 23, 2025

Alex Grimaldo’s curled delivery into the box from a set-piece found the No. 4, whose header was directed into the ground before nestling into the net to make it 1-0.

Quansah ran to the corner flag at the BayArena, unleashing an emotional fist pump before emulating Jota’s trademark gamer celebration and sending a kiss skywards.

The 22-year-old’s Anfield exit was announced the day before Jota’s tragic death, and his dedicated goal is the latest in poignant tributes in honour of the No. 20.

Jarell Quansah with a beautiful tribute to Diogo Jota after scoring his first goal for Leverkusen ??
pic.twitter.com/yt9MkV57fz

— Mohammed (@ZAJD011) August 23, 2025

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Quansah’s first career assist was for Jota, against Leicester in the League Cup in 2023/24, and the pair shared the pitch 28 times at Liverpool.

Hoffenheim scored an equaliser midway through the first half, a 45-minute period which saw Quansah win the most duels of any player (five), as per FotMob, before scoring again in the second to win 2-1.

Quansah is expected to play a prominent role under Ten Hag this season, an opportunity that would not have presented itself under Arne Slot after just 1,291 minutes in 2024/25.

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