Liverpool have officially confirmed the signing of Jeremy Jacquet from Stade Rennais, ending months of anticipation since the deal was first agreed in February. The 20-year-old centre-back arrives at Anfield for a fee of £60 million, completing a move that had been one of the worst-kept secrets in European football.
Here is a full breakdown of the deal, the player and what he is expected to bring to Arne Slot’s Premier League champions.
The Transfer Deal: Key Details
📋 Transfer Breakdown
- Player: Jeremy Jacquet
- Age: 20 years old
- From: Stade Rennais (Rennes), Ligue 1
- To: Liverpool FC
- Fee: £55m fixed + £5m in performance-related add-ons (total up to £60m)
- Contract: Five years, with the option of a further year
- Medical completed: Deadline Day, February 2026
- Officially confirmed: 1 July 2026
Jacquet passed his medical with Liverpool on Deadline Day in February but remained at Rennes for the remainder of the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season a condition of the deal that allowed the French club to pursue their own objectives without losing one of their most important players mid-campaign.
Chelsea were also heavily interested and matched Liverpool’s financial offer exactly, but Jacquet chose Anfield without hesitation a decision that underlines the pull Liverpool still carry as one of Europe’s most attractive destinations for young talent.
In His Own Words: What Jacquet Said About Joining Liverpool
“I feel really good, the first impressions are good and I am very happy to start here. When I see the facilities, I can see myself there. For me it’s a big dream, it’s a big club. A club like Liverpool it’s a big dream for me.” Jeremy Jacquet, speaking to Liverpoolfc.com
Where Does Jacquet Fit in Liverpool’s Defence?
Jacquet will join a central defensive pool at Anfield that already includes Virgil van Dijk, Geovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez. While he is unlikely to walk straight into the starting lineup given van Dijk’s experience and Leoni’s recent form, the expectation is that Jacquet will push for significant game time as he settles into life in the Premier League.
His arrival fits neatly into Liverpool’s broader recruitment strategy over the past two transfer windows one that has deliberately targeted emerging elite talent, with the average age of their first-team signings kept below 22. Jacquet, at 20, is the embodiment of that philosophy.
He did suffer a shoulder injury earlier in 2026, but has completed a full rehabilitation programme and is currently back in individual fitness work. He is expected to be available and ready for the start of pre-season training.
What Kind of Player Is Jeremy Jacquet?
Jacquet is widely regarded across French football as one of the most complete young centre-backs to emerge from Ligue 1 in recent years. He has captained France at multiple youth levels and is considered to have all the attributes required of a modern, ball-playing defender.
- Comfortable in possession — an excellent passing range from deep positions
- Athletic and physical — strong in aerial duels and one-on-one defending
- Tactically intelligent — capable of reading the game and organising a defensive line
- Left-footed — offering balance in a centre-back pairing with the right-footed Van Dijk
His development path included a successful loan spell at Clermont before Rennes recalled him to the first team a sign of just how quickly he had impressed. Under coach Habib Beye this season, Jacquet took another significant step forward in his development.
🔴 Rennes coach Habib Beye said before the deal was finalised: “If we let him go this season, we’ll have to downgrade our goals for the season.”
Expert Reaction: What the Pundits Are Saying
“He’s the real deal. He reminds me of when William Saliba burst onto the scene in France with Saint-Etienne, or Wesley Fofana. It’s about how much you value that potential and talent. You would pay a lot of money for someone who hasn’t really proved much but he is going to be amazing.” Julien Laurens, French Football Expert
The comparison to William Saliba now regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League is a significant one. Saliba made a similarly understated entrance into top-level football before establishing himself as a cornerstone of Arsenal’s defence. The suggestion is that Jacquet could follow a similar trajectory at Liverpool.
“He’s been seen as a rising star for quite some time. He’s a captain at numerous youth groups for France and has all the building blocks you need to be a modern centre-back good on the ball, good passing range, athletic, great in the air. But he doesn’t yet have a long record of top-level football. Kevin Hatchard, European Football Expert, Sky Sports News
Hatchard’s assessment captures the dual nature of this signing enormous potential combined with the acknowledgement that Jacquet is still at an early stage of his top-level career. The £60 million fee is a bet on what he will become rather than a reward for what he has already achieved.
Why Liverpool Beat Chelsea to the Signing
Chelsea matched Liverpool’s offer pound for pound. The financial terms were identical. Yet Jacquet chose Liverpool and that tells its own story about the current standing of both clubs in the eyes of Europe’s most coveted young players.
Liverpool’s track record of developing young defenders into elite performers, combined with the prospect of Champions League football and the opportunity to play alongside Virgil van Dijk at the peak of his career, proved to be the decisive factors. For a 20-year-old centre-back with ambitions to play for France at senior level, there is arguably no better environment in European football right now.
The Verdict: A Smart Signing With Long-Term Upside
£60 million is a significant sum for a 20-year-old who has yet to play in the Champions League or at senior international level. But Liverpool’s recent history of recruiting elite young talent ahead of the market and then watching those players develop into world-class performers suggests this could prove to be outstanding value within two or three years.
If the Saliba comparison holds, Liverpool may well have just signed the best centre-back in England for the next decade. The patience shown in allowing him to finish the season at Rennes before making the move official speaks to a well-managed, well-structured transfer operation on Liverpool’s part.
Jeremy Jacquet has arrived at Anfield. The next chapter begins now.
