Liverpool have placed considerable optimism in Jeremy Jacquet after splashing a £60 million fee to secure the promising young centre‑back this summer. Although a shoulder problem has delayed his preseason involvement, the French defender appears worth the patience. Initially, Jacquet was recruited as a backup to the established pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, with the long‑term plan of eventually taking over alongside the teenage prospect Giovanni Leoni. However, following Konaté's free‑transfer exit at the close of last season, the club now envisions Jacquet stepping directly into the role vacated by his fellow Paris‑born colleague.
Joe Gomez was a strong candidate to partner Van Dijk in Liverpool's opening Premier League match against Newcastle, but the veteran’s recurring injury woes resurfaced during the preseason, leaving the manager with limited options. Meanwhile, 19‑year‑old Leoni – signed from Parma 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 debut for the Reds in September.
This situation further amplifies the need for Jacquet’s services, even though he has not yet featured in any preseason fixtures due to a shoulder ailment that has persisted since February. Over the past six months, Liverpool have been remarkably active in the central‑defence market, agreeing contracts with five players who were 20 or younger at the time of signing: Leoni, Sékou Ndiaye, Kofi Ndukwe, Noah Adekoya and Jacquet himself.
The 21‑year‑old’s shoulder injury forced him out of Rennes’ campaign just days after finalising his move to Anfield, and his intended debut against Leeds was postponed as he continued to experience discomfort. He may still feature in one of Liverpool’s final two preseason friendlies – either the home showdown with Monaco on Sunday or the away fixture against Como a week later. Manager Andoni Iraola is keen to see him side‑by‑side with Van Dijk before the season kicks off with the trip to St James’ Park on 23 August. When Jacquet committed to Liverpool in February, he turned down offers from Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
At that time, Dutch manager Arne Slot was still at the helm, but Slot’s departure means Jacquet will now begin his Merseyside chapter under a new head coach, as Liverpool aim to recover from a fragmented title defence last term. The defending champions’ biggest weakness last season was undoubtedly defensive frailty. Only Iraola’s Bournemouth conceded more goals among the top‑ten finishers, with Liverpool allowing 53 goals – the highest tally in a 38‑game Premier League season. Of those, 20 were conceded from set‑pieces, a statistic that highlighted a glaring vulnerability, especially evident in the collapse against Leeds when a makeshift backline yielded four goals in just 25 minutes of second‑half play, two of them from long throws.
For a player who has accumulated fewer than 100 senior appearances across all competitions – just 37 of those in league action – the pressure is significant. Yet the interest from Arsenal last summer, prior to Liverpool’s decisive £60 million investment in January, underscores the high regard in which Jacquet is held. The fee made him the fourth‑most expensive defender under the age of 21 in football history. Born in the Bondy suburb of Paris, Jacquet progressed through Rennes’ celebrated academy, which in recent years has produced talents such as Desire Doué, Mathys Tel and Lesley Ugochukwu.
He now eclipses even Ousmane Dembélé as the club’s record sale. While attempting to break into Rennes’ first team, he spent two loan spells at Clermont, the second in Ligue 2. Speaking to L’Équipe, he explained his decision: “It was either stay at Rennes with limited minutes or go elsewhere and play regularly.
I chose the minutes and it paid off.” Rennes paid almost €1 million to terminate his second loan early in February 2025, bringing him back to cement a starting role. The club valued him so highly that they insisted on retaining him for the remainder of the season during Liverpool’s winter negotiations.
European football analyst Kevin Hatchard told Sky Sports News, “Rennes didn’t want to let him go in January; they would have had to lower their ambitions if they did.” Liverpool originally intended for Jacquet to learn under his idol Van Dijk, gradually integrating him into the starting XI. This cautious approach reflected his limited top‑level exposure – he had only been a regular in Ligue 1 since January 2024, had no European experience, and had logged just 8,000 senior minutes. However, circumstances have accelerated his timeline, and Iraola appears confident that Jacquet’s lack of experience will not be a major obstacle.
The Frenchman brings leadership qualities that mirror Van Dijk’s style; he captained France at every youth level from U17 to U20 and wore the armband at the 2024 U19 European Championship, where he earned a place in the tournament’s best‑XI. Physically, his stature – 6ft 3in – and athleticism suit the increasingly physical nature of the Premier League.
Interestingly, Jacquet began his career as a midfielder, modeling his play after Paul Pogba. He recalls, “I wanted to emulate Pogba, but Rennes’ scouts saw a different future for me in defence. They were right; they knew better.” This midfield background has endowed him with composure on the ball, a calmness reminiscent of Van Dijk, and an ability to break lines with incisive passes.
He describes his style: “I stay calm on the ball, maybe look non‑chalant, but I’m focused. My aim is to play out well and make the right pass.” Statistically, his numbers support the description.
In Ligue 1 last season, the right‑footed defender completed 90.4 % of his passes (973 of 1,076). Defensively, he excelled in aerial duels, winning 75.5 % – the third‑best rate in the league – and ranked among the top 20 for ground duels, posting a 62 % success rate, the second‑best at Rennes. Opta data shows he averaged 4.9 clearances and 4.14 possessions won per 90 minutes, underscoring his proactive defensive mindset.
French football commentator Julien Laurens, who has tracked Jacquet’s early career, believes Liverpool have made a sound investment. “He’s the real deal,” Laurens told Sky Sports News. “He’s only 21, hasn’t featured for the senior France side or in the Champions League, but his performances since returning from loan have been impressive.
He reminds me of William Saliba’s rise at Saint‑Étienne or Wesley Fofana. Paying a premium for such potential is risky, but the upside is massive.” If the young French centre‑back can replicate the impact of his compatriot at the Emirates, Liverpool will have secured a worthy successor to the legendary Van Dijk, reinforcing a backline that struggled with set‑piece vulnerabilities and providing a long‑term solution for the club’s defensive ambitions.