Jeremy Jacquet to join Liverpool in summer after deal agreed with Stade Rennais on deadline day - 'I am honoured'

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After weeks of speculation that Chelsea would sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes in the winter transfer window, it is Liverpool who have landed the 20-year-old. The deal comes as Arne Slot's squad are defensively depleted following injuries to Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni, but Jacquet will not join until the summer.

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Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign highly rated Stade Rennais defender Jeremy Jacquet on a deal which will see him join Arne Slot's squad in the summer.

The league champions have suffered a spate of defensive fitness problems with Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni all out of action.

And with Ibrahima Konate facing an uncertain future at Anfield, with his contract expiring in the summer, Liverpool have moved to strengthen their backline for the 2026/27 season.

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According to reports, Liverpool and Rennes agreed a deal worth £55 million plus £5m in add-ons. The Premier League club said in a statement Jacquet had signed a "long-term contract", which is reported to run until 2031.

"I am honoured to sign with Liverpool, one of the largest football clubs in the world," Jacquet said in a statement published by Rennes. "It was also very important for me to conclude my adventure in Red and Black, in my training club, my favourite club.

"I approach this second part of the season with the desire to experience beautiful emotions with my team-mates and the audience."

Chelsea were also linked with the France Under-21 international, while The Athletic reported that he was of long-term interest to Arsenal - but Liverpool won the race for his signature.

Liverpool had been active in their pursuit to bolster their central-defensive options as they chased a deadline-day move for Marc Guehi in the summer. However, they did not complete a move for the England international, and he instead joined Manchester City in January this year.

Jacquet had been touted for a move to the Premier League following his impressive breakout in France, which began with a loan spell to second-tier side Clermont Foot.

The 20-year-old has been a regular in the backline for Rennes since his return, starting in all their matches this season - bar two in which he was unavailable through suspension.

Jacquet has impressed not only with his defensive and aerial capabilities, but also his ball-carrying talent too, able to drive into midfield and also switch play to either flank.

The arrival of Jacquet remedies potential concerns over the future of Konate, who is now free to negotiate pre-contract agreements with overseas clubs under the Bosman ruling, due to being in the last six months of his Liverpool deal.

Real Madrid have reportedly been interested in signing Konate.

The signing of Jacquet represents another move in the significant squad overhaul since Liverpool's Premier League title-winning campaign in 2024/25.

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The Merseyside club spent nearly £450m in the summer, twice breaking their club-record transfer fee with the arrivals of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

Liverpool sit sixth in the Premier League and secured their place in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 by finishing third in the league phase. They face Manchester City on Sunday.

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