Centre-back will compete with Virgil van Dijk, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez next season
Jeremy Jacquet has completed his move from Rennes to Liverpool. The Premier League side have confirmed the defender’s arrival in a deal worth up to £60m.
The 20-year-old centre-back has signed a five-year contract, with Liverpool holding the option to extend it by another year. The transfer includes an initial £55m fee and a further £5m in performance-related add-ons.
Liverpool secured Jacquet’s signature in January ahead of interest from Chelsea and Bayern Munich but the move was not completed until Wednesday after international clearance.
“I feel really good, the first impressions are good and I am very happy to start here,” Jacquet said after signing. “When I see the facilities, I can see myself there. For me it’s a big dream. A club like Liverpool, it’s a big dream for me.”
Liverpool signed Jacquet at the turn of the year when it became evident that there was a big hole at centre-back. The deal became even more important this summer after Ibrahima Konate left at the end of his contract to join Real Madrid.
Jacquet arrives after a difficult few months having suffered a serious shoulder injury shortly after Liverpool agreed the transfer in January. He has completed his rehabilitation and is now working on his fitness as he targets a return for the start of pre-season under new head coach Andoni Iraola.
The France U-21 international will compete for a place alongside Virgil van Dijk, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez in central defence. Leoni suffered an ACL injury on his debut and missed most of last season but he is also expected to return for pre-season.
What will Jeremy Jacquet Bring to Liverpool?
A move for a centre-back has been overdue for Liverpool. It was a problem position even in the summer when they spent £450m on new additions. A move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi broke down on deadline day, and the England defender has since joined rivals Manchester City.
Parma’s Giovanni Leoni was brought in for a reported £26m, but his season-ending ACL injury – suffered on his debut in the 2-1 win against Southampton in the Carabao Cup – meant the club had to be without him for a year.
Liverpool’s hierarchy understood that signing the defender in the winter window was vital in order to stave off competition from Chelsea. Going forward, they clearly need reinforcements at the back, and especially so after Ibrahima Konate was allowed to leave on a free this summer, joining Real Madrid.
The Reds managed to finish fifth last season and secured Champions League football for next season, but they just barely did and understand that a similar performance next term is unacceptable. Jacquet will be a big part of Andoni Iraola’s plans as he aims to reorganise the team play and make the side far less easy to play through than they were last season.
The 20-year-old Jacquet is highly rated by Liverpool’s recruitment department and they believe that, for his age, he will form a core of the club’s future alongside the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, and Alexander Isak – and to an extent Leoni himself when he returns to the pitch.
