Liverpool Finalizes French Talent's Transfer, Agreed in Winter

Liverpool has officially completed the signing of Rennes central defender Jeremy Jacquet for a fee of £60 million. The 20-year-old talent underwent medical examinations with the Reds back in February, with the transfer agreed upon then, but he remained in France until the end of the 2025/26 season.

Liverpool will pay an initial £55 million, with an additional £5 million potentially added in performance-related bonuses. Chelsea had submitted an identical offer to Liverpool's, but the player opted for a move to Anfield, where he signed a five-year contract with an option for a further year.

The young defender has been with Rennes since 2024, making 33 appearances for the club and registering one assist. He also has five caps for the French youth national team.

In his first statement to the club's official website, Jacquet shared: "I feel really good, my first impressions are excellent, and I'm very happy to start here. I'm very happy. When I see the facilities, I can imagine myself here. I feel good and I'm excited to get started. For me, this is a big dream, this is a big club. A club like Liverpool is a huge dream for me," he added.

Despite suffering a shoulder injury earlier this year, Jacquet has successfully completed his rehabilitation program and is now undergoing individual fitness training. He is expected to be available for the start of pre-season training. He will join Liverpool's first-team squad as one of the central defenders, alongside Virgil van Dijk, Giovanni Leoni, and Joe Gomez.

The acquisition of Jacquet, who was sought after by numerous clubs across Europe, aligns with Liverpool's strategy of identifying and attracting emerging elite talents. The average age of new first-team signings over the last two transfer windows is under 22 years old.

Liverpool had already signed Spanish winger Victor Muñoz from Osasuna for €40 million earlier this summer.