Liverpool have officially completed the £60 million signing of Jeremy Jacquet from Stade Rennais, handing manager Andoni Iraola a significant addition to his defensive options as the Reds build towards the 2026/27 Premier League season. The 20-year-old French centre-back puts pen to paper on a long-term contract at Anfield, arriving as one of the most highly rated young defenders in Ligue 1.
Jeremy Jacquet: The £60m Frenchman Living His Anfield Dream
Liverpool first agreed a deal for Jacquet back in February 2026, with the club allowing him to complete the remainder of the 2025/26 season at Rennes before making the move to Merseyside. It was a measured, patient piece of recruitment — the kind of approach that has come to define Iraola’s transfer strategy. The Reds paid a fixed fee of £55 million with up to £5 million in performance-related add-ons, securing the player on a five-year contract with an option for a further 12 months.
Jacquet arrives at Anfield having made 37 appearances in Ligue 1, with stints at Rennes and on loan at Clermont Foot giving him a well-rounded education in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues. Despite only turning 21 this summer, he already carries the bearing of a leader at the back — composed in possession, dominant in the air, and aggressive without the ball.
His pedigree at youth level is equally impressive. Jacquet was named in the Team of the Tournament at the 2024 UEFA U19 European Championship, helping France reach the final, and has since earned five France U21 caps. These are not the statistics of a player who will simply warm a bench at Anfield — Iraola clearly sees him as a key part of his plans.
“For me it’s a big dream, it’s a big club,” said Jacquet upon completing his move. “A club like Liverpool — it’s a big dream for me. I feel really good. When I see the facilities, I can see myself there. I am very happy to start here.”
Iraola’s Liverpool: A Squad Taking Shape for the Title Hunt
Jacquet’s arrival is just one piece of a larger puzzle Andoni Iraola is assembling at Anfield. The Liverpool manager — who has spoken admiringly of Jacquet’s qualities, saying he “has all the tools” — has been quietly constructing one of the most exciting squads in the Premier League. Ryan Gravenberch, Alexander Isak and the exceptional Florian Wirtz are among the names who will line up alongside Jacquet as the Reds bid to challenge at the very top of the table.
Pre-season has not been without its rough edges — a 2-4 defeat to Leeds in Chicago raised an eyebrow or two — but Iraola has been characteristically unfazed. Jacquet himself made his first pre-season appearance, with the manager confirming the Frenchman would feature alongside Gravenberch, Isak and Wirtz as the squad’s newer arrivals acclimatised to his methods. The focus, as ever, is on building something sustainable rather than simply buying short-term solutions.
Can Liverpool Challenge for the Premier League Title?
With the 2026/27 Premier League season opening on 21 August, Liverpool face an immediate examination of their credentials. Their opening league fixture pits them against Newcastle United on Sunday 23 August — a game that will give fans an early sense of whether Iraola’s rebuilt side can match the ambitions that Jacquet’s arrival so strongly signals.
Adding a defender of Jacquet’s calibre to a squad already containing world-class talent makes Liverpool a serious proposition. The Reds have hunger, depth, and now a defensive foundation to match their attacking firepower. Jacquet represents the kind of forward-thinking, high-ceiling signing that champions are built on.
For the full picture on who else Liverpool will be facing this season, check out our EPL 2026/27 season preview — and stay across all the action at our Sports section.
