When Liverpool paid £60m for a 20-year-old defender who had just undergone shoulder surgery, it raised eyebrows. But the signing of Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes is part of a long-term plan to reshape the club's defence.
Liverpool officially confirmed the signing of Jérémy Jacquet on 1 July 2026, after agreeing a deal in January. The centre-back cost an initial £55m with up to £5m in add-ons, making him the second most expensive defender in Liverpool history behind Virgil van Dijk, who cost £75m in 2018. Jacquet signed a five-year contract with the option of a sixth. The France Under-21 international made 33 appearances for Rennes before the move.
“An explainer on Liverpool's £60m signing of young defender Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes.”
The transfer came amid a defensive overhaul at Anfield. Club captain Virgil van Dijk turns 35 in July 2026. Ibrahima Konaté left on a free transfer to Real Madrid when his contract expired. And 19-year-old Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni, signed for almost £30m from Parma the previous summer, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on his debut that ended his season and left his return date uncertain. Joe Gomez remains as an experienced option. Liverpool fended off competition from Chelsea and Bayern Munich to secure Jacquet, who said: "For me it's a big dream. It's a big club."
Jacquet suffered a shoulder injury shortly after the January agreement was announced, falling awkwardly during a Rennes match against Lens in February. He required surgery and underwent a rehabilitation programme. He is now doing individual fitness work and is expected to be available for the start of pre-season training on 14 July, ahead of Liverpool's US tour starting 20 July. New head coach Andoni Iraola will have Jacquet as an option alongside van Dijk, Gomez and Leoni.
For UK readers, this transfer matters because it signals Liverpool's strategy to lower the average age of their squad while investing heavily in young talent. It also highlights the financial clout of Premier League clubs and the intense competition for top defensive prospects. With van Dijk approaching the end of his peak years, Liverpool are planning for the future. Jacquet's fee—which could reach £60m—reflects the premium on elite young defenders.
Q: How much did Liverpool pay for Jérémy Jacquet? Liverpool paid an initial £55m with up to £5m in add-ons, making the total deal worth £60m. The fee makes him the second most expensive defender in Liverpool history.
Q: Who is Jérémy Jacquet and what position does he play? Jacquet is a 20-year-old French centre-back who came through Rennes' academy. He is a France Under-21 international and was named in the team of the tournament at the Under-19 Euros in 2024.
Q: When will Jacquet be available to play for Liverpool? He has fully recovered from shoulder surgery and is doing individual fitness work. He is expected to be available for the start of pre-season training on 14 July and for Liverpool's tour of the United States from 20 July.
What happens next: Jacquet will join his new teammates for pre-season on 14 July. Iraola will then integrate him into a defence that includes van Dijk, Gomez, and Leoni, who is also recovering from injury. Liverpool's pre-season tour of the US runs from 20 July. Jacquet's first competitive action could come in early August, depending on fitness. The club will also monitor Leoni's return from his ACL injury. Meanwhile, Konaté has officially joined Real Madrid.