Liverpool has agreed a £60 million deal to sign Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, with the 20-year-old France U21 international set to join the Reds in
Liverpool has agreed a £60 million deal to sign Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, with the 20-year-old France U21 international set to join the Reds in the summer of 2026 officially.
The agreement includes £55m upfront and £5m in add-ons, marking a significant investment in strengthening their defensive line, which has become their Achilles heel in the ongoing campaign.
The deal comes after weeks of speculation, with Chelsea also strongly linked to Jacquet.
The London club had held talks with Rennes and was considered a favourite at one stage, but Liverpool moved decisively to secure the player.
Rennes preferred to keep Jacquet until the end of the season, allowing them time to find a replacement, and Liverpool agreed to loan him back until June. This arrangement ensures Rennes retain stability while Liverpool guarantees their long-term target.
Jacquet has been one of Ligue 1’s standout young defenders this season, making 18 appearances and impressing with his aerial dominance and composure on the ball.
His performances attracted attention from several top European clubs, but Liverpool’s offer and promise of first-team opportunities proved decisive.
For manager Arne Slot, the signing addresses concerns over defensive depth, especially with Ibrahima Konaté’s contract situation uncertain and past missed opportunities in the transfer market.
Jacquet’s arrival adds youthful energy and long-term stability to their backline, complementing established defenders like Virgil van Dijk and Konaté.
Fans will have to wait until the summer to see him in action at Anfield, but the deal represents a major coup for the Reds, who successfully outmanoeuvred Chelsea in one of the winter window’s biggest transfer battles.
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