Liverpool signs Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes in £60 million deal
Liverpool has secured the signature of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes in a £60 million transfer completed on deadline day, edging out Chelsea for the highly-rated young defender, reports BritPanorama.
The 20-year-old France youth international underwent his medical with the Premier League champions on Monday evening before signing a long-term deal. Jacquet has committed to a five-year agreement at Anfield, which includes an option to extend for an additional season.
The fee comprises £55 million guaranteed, with a further £5 million available through performance-related bonuses. Manchester United also made a late approach for the centre-back, but he declined their interest in favour of joining Arne Slot’s squad.
The defender will remain with the Ligue 1 club for the remainder of the current campaign before officially joining Liverpool on July 1 ahead of the 2026-27 season. Chelsea had discussions with Jacquet throughout January and matched Liverpool’s financial offer, but the player ultimately chose Anfield.
Chelsea’s pursuit reportedly cooled when it emerged that Mamadou Sarr would be returning to Stamford Bridge and Josh Acheampong was staying at the club. Jacquet determined Liverpool presented a more attractive pathway for his career development, given Chelsea’s abundance of young central defenders already on their books.
This acquisition bolsters Liverpool’s options at centre-back during a period of uncertainty in that position. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are presently the only fit senior defenders available to Slot, with Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni sidelined through injury.
Konate’s contract expires this summer and negotiations over fresh terms remain ongoing, meaning Jacquet could find himself with significant playing opportunities upon his arrival. Sporting director Richard Hughes oversaw the transfer discussions, concluding them successfully.
Jacquet has been tracked by numerous top European clubs since making his professional debut in early 2024. He subsequently impressed during a loan spell at Clermont before establishing himself as Rennes’ first-choice defender this season. The 6ft 2 French youngster, known for his physical dominance and elite aerial ability, has won 75.5 per cent of his aerial duels in Ligue 1 this season.
With Liverpool’s defensive lineup under scrutiny, Jacquet’s arrival could not come at a more opportune moment. As clubs pursue their ambitions while adjusting strategies, the balancing act between player potential and immediate needs is a conversation that Liverpool, and indeed the football world, is all too familiar with.
