In a move set to reshape their defensive future, Liverpool Football Club have secured a verbal agreement to sign French centre-back Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes in a deal worth up to £60 million, beating Chelsea to the signature of one of Europe’s most coveted young defenders.
The agreement, reached on transfer deadline day, sees Liverpool commit to a fixed fee of £55 million with an additional £5 million in performance-related add-ons.
The 20-year-old France Under-21 international is scheduled to undergo his medical imminently but will complete his move and join the Anfield squad in the summer of 2026, signing a five-year contract with an option for a further year.
The transfer represents a significant coup for the Merseyside club, who faced direct competition from Chelsea. It is understood that Chelsea offered identical terms, but Jacquet ultimately opted for Liverpool after Chelsea’s decision to recall Mamadou Sarr and retain Josh Acheampong altered the defensive landscape at Stamford Bridge.
“It is believed he is likely to play more regularly there in the long term as Chelsea’s squad is overloaded with young centre-backs,” a report noted, highlighting the player’s priority for first-team football.
The signing addresses a pressing strategic need for Liverpool. The club’s centre-back resources are currently stretched, with senior players Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as the only fully fit options, and Konate’s contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Jacquet is seen as a long-term investment and a potential pillar of the defence for years to come. His arrival follows Liverpool’s failure to secure Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace last summer, a deal that collapsed at the last minute before Guehi joined Manchester City.
Hailing from Bondy, a suburb of Paris, Jacquet has taken a unique path to the top. Initially a midfielder, he was converted to a centre-back by Rennes scouts and has since developed into a modern defender, noted for his composure on the ball, athleticism, and passing range.
Despite his youth, he has shown considerable maturity, embracing a loan spell at Clermont to secure playing time, a decision he credits for his development. “I chose minutes on the pitch, and it paid off,” Jacquet reflected in a recent interview.
His performances for Rennes this season and his inclusion in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament in 2024 have marked him as a special talent.
Football experts have been quick to praise the potential of the transfer. French football expert Julien Laurens offered a glowing assessment: “He’s the real deal… He reminds me of when William Saliba burst onto the scene in France with Saint-Etienne, or Wesley Fofana. He is going to be amazing”.
However, some analysts have pointed out the element of risk involved in such a substantial investment. European football expert Kevin Hatchard noted, “He doesn’t have a long record of top-level football,” while acknowledging Jacquet possesses “all of the building blocks you need to be a modern centre-back”.
The timing of the move, with Jacquet arriving in the summer rather than immediately, has sparked debate. Sky Sports’ Paul Merson expressed surprise, stating, “They need a centre half now to get top four or top five… With that kind of money, you want him now!”.
Nevertheless, the deal signals Liverpool’s intent to build for the future, securing a player who cites Van Dijk and Konate as personal idols and who appears destined to soon line up alongside one of them at the heart of Liverpool’s defence.