Jérémy Jacquet (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Liverpool has confirmed a €70m deal for French defender Jérémy Jacquet, who will remain at Rennes until the summer as the club prepares a long-term reshaping of its defence.
Liverpool have officially confirmed the signing of Jérémy Jacquet in a deal worth up to €70 million, laying down a key marker for the club’s long-term defensive rebuild.
The 20-year-old French centre-back will remain at Rennes until the end of the current season before completing his move to Anfield. The deal includes €60 million in fixed compensation and a further €10 million in performance-related bonuses.
The fee makes Jacquet the seventh most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history and the most expensive sale ever recorded by Rennes.
The transfer immediately raises questions about the future of Ibrahima Konaté. The French defender’s contract expires next summer and negotiations over an extension have stalled, adding uncertainty to Liverpool’s current defensive core.
Liverpool are already planning well beyond the present. Last summer, the club signed Giovanni Leoni, a 19-year-old Italian defender, for €31 million. Although Leoni suffered a serious injury shortly after arriving, he remains a central part of the club’s long-term plans.
Inside Anfield, the vision is clear. The club sees Leoni and Jacquet as a future pairing capable of eventually succeeding Virgil van Dijk, whose contract runs until June 2027.
Jacquet is regarded as one of the fastest-rising defensive prospects in Europe. Tall, physically dominant and composed in duels, he combines strong defensive instincts with calm distribution under pressure.
His rise has been rapid. Just one year ago, Jacquet was playing in Ligue 2 on loan at Clermont. Now, he arrives as a cornerstone signing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs and a regular member of the France under-21 national team.
The deal underlines Liverpool’s strategy of securing elite defensive talent early, even at a premium price, to avoid future rebuilding crises.
With Jacquet secured and Leoni already in place, the club have sent a clear message. The next generation of Liverpool’s defence is already being built.