Key Points
- Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Rennes to sign centre-back Jeremy Jacquet for a fee worth up to £60m, comprising £55m fixed plus £5m in add-ons.
- The 20-year-old French defender, previously a target for Chelsea, opted for Liverpool after Chelsea decided to recall Mamadou Sarr from loan and retain Josh Acheampong.
- Jacquet will remain at Rennes until the summer before joining Liverpool, with a medical scheduled on deadline day.
- Chelsea’s centre-back squad is crowded, featuring players like Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and others, influencing Jacquet’s decision.
London (Liverpool Standard) February 2, 2026 – Liverpool have hijacked Chelsea’s pursuit of Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet by agreeing a club-record fee worth up to £60million for the highly-rated 20-year-old.
The deal sees Liverpool pay a guaranteed £55m plus potential £5m in performance-related add-ons, according to Sky Sports and Standard Sport reports. Jacquet, who has been a mainstay for sixth-placed Rennes this season with over 1,600 minutes played, chose Anfield after Chelsea’s plans to bolster their own youth options shifted.
Why Did Jeremy Jacquet Choose Liverpool Over Chelsea?
Chelsea had offered an identical deal to Liverpool’s proposal but Jacquet changed his mind in the past 48 hours upon learning of Chelsea’s intentions to bring back Mamadou Sarr from his Strasbourg loan and keep Josh Acheampong at Stamford Bridge, Sky Sports reports. According to the outlet, Jacquet believes he will secure more regular playing time at Liverpool long-term given Chelsea’s overloaded centre-back roster.
As reported by Standard Sport of Evening Standard, Chelsea’s reluctance to meet Rennes’ record-breaking demands earlier in January allowed Liverpool to swoop in with a late bid, making significant progress over the weekend.
What Does This Mean for Liverpool’s Defence?
Liverpool, light at centre-back with Ibrahima Konate’s contract expiring at season’s end, view Jacquet as a key summer addition to address defensive vulnerabilities. The Reds recently missed out on Marc Guehi, who joined Manchester City, and explored alternatives like Lutsharel Geertruida, per Standard Sport.
How Has Jacquet Performed at Rennes?
The prodigy has started all 18 Ligue 1 matches for Rennes this season, averaging 4.8 clearances and 0.8 blocks per 90 minutes alongside a club-high 2.9 accurate long balls, as detailed by NBC Sports. His form has propelled Rennes towards a European spot, prompting the club to insist he stays until summer.
What Are Chelsea’s Next Moves?
Chelsea have moved swiftly, with Mamadou Sarr en route to London to finalise his return on deadline day while Aaron Anselmino takes his place at Strasbourg, according to multiple reports. The Blues’ first-team defence remains deep with Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill and Jorrel Hato.
Sky Sports analyst Paul Merson noted Liverpool’s need for immediate defensive reinforcement, expressing surprise at the summer timing while praising the signing’s quality.
