Liverpool confirm Jeremy Jacquet signing from Rennes in £60m deal
Liverpool have officially completed the signing of centre-back Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes in a deal valued at £60m. The France Under-21 international has signed a five-year contract with the option of an additional year at Anfield. The transfer was finalised on Wednesday, subject to international clearance, following an agreement reached in January.
The initial fee for Jacquet is reported as £55m, with an additional £5m potentially payable in performance-related add-ons. This move sees Liverpool secure a player who was also reportedly pursued by other major European clubs, including Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Despite interest from Chelsea, who reportedly offered the same deal, Jacquet chose to move to Anfield.
Jacquet expressed his enthusiasm for joining the club, stating, “I feel really good, the first impressions are good and I am very happy to start here. I am very happy. When I see the facilities, I can see myself there. I feel good here and I am very excited to get started. For me it’s a big dream, it’s a big club. A club like Liverpool, it’s a big dream for me.”
Jacquet’s Journey to Anfield
The agreement for Jacquet’s transfer was initially reached in January, with the player remaining at Rennes for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. He successfully completed a medical on Deadline Day in February. Shortly after the initial agreement was announced, Jacquet sustained a shoulder injury.
However, he has since completed a rehabilitation programme and is currently engaged in individual fitness work. He is expected to be available for the start of pre-season training under head coach Andoni Iraola. His return from the dislocated shoulder is timely for Liverpool, especially given that fellow centre-back Giovanni Leoni has been sidelined by a cruciate ligament injury sustained on his debut.
Jacquet’s arrival provides Liverpool with a new option in central defence, joining players such as Virgil van Dijk, Geovanni Leoni, and Joe Gomez in the first-team squad. This signing also follows the departure of Ibrahima Konate, who left on a free transfer to Real Madrid after his contract expired.
Expert Views on the New Signing
French football expert Julien Laurens commented on Jacquet, describing him as “the real deal.” Laurens noted that while Jacquet is young and has not yet played for the France senior team or in the Champions League or Europa League, he has shown impressive form. He drew comparisons to the early careers of William Saliba and Wesley Fofana, highlighting the potential and talent that Liverpool has invested in.
Kevin Hatchard, a European football expert, also offered insights, stating that Jacquet has been considered a rising star for some time. Hatchard mentioned Jacquet’s leadership as a captain in various youth groups for France and his qualities as a modern centre-back, including being good on the ball, having a strong passing range, athleticism, and aerial ability. Despite these attributes, Hatchard noted that Jacquet does not have an extensive record in top-level football.
Jacquet had a successful loan spell at Clermont and has been playing for Rennes this season. His coach, Habib Beye, reportedly indicated that allowing Jacquet to leave this season would necessitate a downgrade in the team’s goals. This underscores the high regard in which Jacquet was held at his former club.
The acquisition of Jacquet aligns with Liverpool’s strategy of identifying and recruiting emerging elite talent, with the average age of their first-team signings over the last two transfer windows being lower than 22. Liverpool have also made another signing this summer, bringing in Spain winger Victor Munoz for £34m, and reportedly offered an £86m package for Yan Diomande.
Jacquet’s medical was completed on Deadline Day in February.
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Source: skysports.com
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
