Jeremy Jacquet Proves Liverpool Made Right Decision with Rennes Announcement

Liverpool FC have secured a major transfer coup by agreeing a £60m deal for Jeremy Jacquet, the highly-rated 20-year-old centre-back from Stade Rennais, validating their strategic patience amid competition from Chelsea.[1][4][5]

The agreement, finalized on transfer deadline day (February 2, 2026), sees Liverpool pay a fixed £55m fee plus up to £5m in performance-related add-ons. Jacquet, a France Under-21 international with five caps, will remain on loan at Rennes for the rest of the 2025-26 season before joining Anfield ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. He has signed a long-term contract until 2031, with an option for an extra year.[4][5][6]

This move addresses Liverpool's defensive shortages, with only Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté as fit senior centre-backs currently. Konaté's contract expires this summer, risking a free departure, while Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni are injured. Jacquet fills the gap left by last summer's collapsed Marc Guéhi deal.[4][5]

Chelsea had led the chase, agreeing fees and holding talks, but pulled out after recalling Mamadou Sarr and retaining Josh Acheampong. Jacquet favored Anfield, aligning with Liverpool's youth-focused recruitment—average signing age under 22 recently.[1][5]

Rennes' reluctance to sell mid-season underscores Jacquet's value; manager Habib Beye noted it would downgrade their goals. The delay benefits all: Liverpool defers the fee to next season's accounts for financial fair play, and Rennes keeps him for key games like the French Cup tie against Marseille, where he played 90 minutes.[8]

Jacquet, a Rennes academy product, has 18 Ligue 1 appearances this season (31 total since January 2024 debut) plus a successful Clermont loan. He's athletic, excellent in the air, strong on the ball, and was named in the 2024 U19 Euros Team of the Tournament after reaching the final.[4][6][7]

Critics question his limited top-level experience, but his potential fits Liverpool's model perfectly, proving the Reds made the right decision in outmaneuvering rivals.[2][7]

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