Liverpool have placed considerable expectations on Jeremy Jacquet after splashing a £60 million fee to secure the promising young centre‑back this summer. Although a pre‑season injury has delayed his debut, the French defender appears worth the patience.
Initially brought in as a backup to the established defensive pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konäte, with the long‑term aim of eventually partnering them alongside teenage prospect Giovanni Leoni, Jacquet now seems poised to step into the role vacated by Konäte, who left on a free transfer at the close of last season. Joe Gomez was a strong candidate to partner Van Dijk in Liverpool's opening Premier League match against Newcastle, a fixture broadcast live on Sky Sports, but the veteran's recurring injury problems resurfaced during pre‑season, forcing him out again. Leoni, the 19‑year‑old acquired from Parma last summer as part of Fenway Sports Group's strategy to lower the average age of the first‑team squad, is still recovering from the ACL rupture he suffered on his Liverpool debut in September. This situation further increases the likelihood that Jacquet will be required for the season‑opening weekend, even though he has not yet featured in any pre‑season games due to a cautious approach to a shoulder issue that has kept him sidelined since February.
From last summer through to January 2026, Liverpool have signed five centre‑backs who were 20 or younger at the time of their deals – Leoni, Sadio N'Diaye, Ibrahima Ndukwe, Noah Adekoya and Jacquet – underscoring the club's commitment to youth in the heart of defence. Jacquet's shoulder problem cut short his final season with Rennes just days after his transfer was confirmed, and his anticipated debut against Leeds United last Sunday was postponed because he was still feeling discomfort. He could still feature in one of Liverpool's last two pre‑season friendlies at Anfield – either against Monaco on Sunday or against Como a week later – and manager Andoni Iraola is understandably eager to see him alongside Van Dijk before the campaign kicks off with the trip to St James' Park on 23 August.
When Jacquet committed to Liverpool in February, turning down offers from Chelsea and Bayern Munich, the Dutchman Arne Slot was still in charge at Anfield. Since Slot's departure, the defender will now begin his Merseyside career under a new head coach as Liverpool aim to recover from a fragmented title defence last season. One of the most glaring problems for the reigning champions last campaign was their defensive frailty.
Only Iraola's Bournemouth conceded more goals among the top‑ten finishers, and Liverpool's 53 goals conceded was the highest tally in a 38‑match Premier League season. Of those 53, a striking 20 came from set‑pieces – a record that highlighted a vulnerability that resurfaced dramatically in the collapse against Leeds, where a makeshift back line allowed four goals in just 25 minutes of second‑half play, two of them from long throws. For a player with fewer than 100 senior appearances across all competitions – just 37 of those in league action – the burden is heavy.
Yet Arsenal were also monitoring Jacquet closely last summer before Liverpool moved decisively to invest £60 million in January, making him the fourth‑most expensive defender aged 21 or under in football history. Born in the Bondy suburb of Paris, Jacquet progressed through Rennes' famed academy, which in recent years has produced talents such as Desire Doué, Mathys Tel and Lesley Ugochukwu. He now holds the distinction of being Rennes' record sale, overtaking even Ousmane Dembélé and Doué. While trying to break into the Rennes first team, Jacquet spent two loan spells at Clermont, the second of which was in Ligue 2.
Speaking to L'Equipe he explained his decision: "It was either stay at Rennes with limited minutes or go somewhere and get game time. I chose the minutes, and it paid off." Rennes paid almost €1 million (£856,000) to terminate his second loan early in February 2025, bringing him back to become a key figure in their senior side. The club valued him so highly that they insisted on retaining him for the remainder of the season during negotiations with Liverpool in the winter window. "He had a loan at Clermont that went well," European football analyst Kevin Hatchard told Sky Sports News.
"Rennes didn't want to let him go in January because they knew how important he was. His coach Habib Beye said, 'If we let him leave this season, we'll have to lower our ambitions.'" Liverpool originally envisioned Jacquet learning under his idol Van Dijk – "If I want to reach the highest level, I must immerse myself in him and others" – and being gradually introduced into the starting XI.
This plan reflected his limited experience; he had only been playing top‑flight football since January 2024, had never featured in European competition, and arrived at Anfield with roughly 8,000 senior minutes under his belt. Those plans have now accelerated, pushing Jacquet toward an earlier debut than anticipated. Nevertheless, his relative inexperience is unlikely to worry Iraola, because the young Frenchman already exhibits natural leadership qualities reminiscent of Van Dijk. He captained France at every youth level from U17 to U20 and wore the armband at the 2024 U19 European Championship, where he was selected in the tournament's best XI.
Physically, Jacquet possesses the size and athleticism required for the increasingly physical Premier League. Standing 6ft 3in tall, he combines strength with agility, making him a formidable presence in aerial duels and ground challenges.
Interestingly, Jacquet began his football journey as a midfielder, modeling his style after Paul Pogba. "I wanted to play like him," he once said, before Rennes' scouts convinced him that his future lay in defence. "They were right; they knew better," he now admits. That midfield background translates into composure on the ball.
He displays a calmness reminiscent of Van Dijk, coupled with the Dutchman's elegance and athleticism. "I'm calm on the ball, maybe I look a bit non‑chalant, but I'm focused," Jacquet explained. "What defines me is playing out well, breaking lines with the right pass." Statistically, his numbers back up the praise. In Ligue 1 last season he completed 90.4% of his passes (973 of 1,076) and recorded the third‑highest aerial‑duel success rate in the league at 75.5%.
He also ranked among the top 20 for ground duels, posting a 62% win rate – the second‑best at Rennes. Opta data further highlights his defensive contributions: an average of 4.9 clearances per 90 minutes and 4.14 successful possessions per game. As Hatchard summed up, Jacquet is "a rising star who is good on the ball, has a wide passing range, is athletic and great in the air." French football commentator Julien Laurens, who has followed Jacquet's fledgling career, believes Liverpool have made a sound investment. "He's the real deal," he told Sky Sports News.
"He’s only 21, hasn't played for the senior France team or in the Champions League, but he's impressed since returning from his loan in the second division. You can't go wrong. He reminds me of William Saliba's emergence at Saint‑Étienne or Wesley Fofana.
It's about valuing potential and talent – paying a lot for a youngster who hasn't fully proven himself is a gamble, but one that could pay huge dividends." If the young French defender can replicate the impact of his compatriot at the Emirates, Liverpool will have secured a worthy successor to the legendary Van Dijk, reinforcing a back line that desperately needs stability, aerial prowess and composure on the ball as the club aims to reclaim the Premier League crown.