Jeremy Jacquet completes a major step in a growing career, finalising a move from Rennes to Liverpool, where the centre-back expects to learn directly from Virgil van Dijk and likely compete for a starting role in Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League campaign in charge at Anfield.

The transfer for the 20-year-old defender was agreed in February for a reported 60m fee, around 69m, and the deal officially went through on Wednesday, setting up Jacquet to replace Ibrahima Konate, who left Liverpool for Real Madrid on a free transfer after last season.

Jacquet is unveiled as the second Liverpool signing under head coach Andoni Iraola, following Spain forward Victor Munoz, and the defender makes clear that playing beside Van Dijk is a major attraction, describing the chance to share a backline with the Netherlands captain as a crucial part of development.

“I’m really excited to line up alongside a great player like him. I think he’s up there with the best centre-backs in the world currently, so I can only learn from him,” he told the club’s website. “I don’t like using the word ‘idol’, not even for the best players I admire. But naturally, he’s a player I look up to. As far as I’m concerned, he’s one of the best centre-backs and if I want to reach the very top, I’ve got to absorb as much as I can from him, obviously.”

Before leaving Ligue 1, Jacquet features 19 times in the 2025-26 league campaign, helping Rennes secure sixth place in France’s top division, while contributing to five clean sheets and producing strong defensive figures, despite missing the final part of the season because of shoulder surgery carried out in March.

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During those 19 league outings, Jacquet makes 19 interceptions and records 91 clearances, with only team-mate Anthony Rouault managing more clearances, with 111, underlining why Liverpool target the defender as part of a reshaped backline after Konate’s departure and injuries elsewhere in central defence.

Last season, Van Dijk provides Liverpool’s main defensive continuity with 55 starts in all competitions, the highest total in the squad, while Konate starts 49 matches, Joe Gomez is limited to 19 appearances and Giovanni Leoni features only once, suffering a serious knee injury in the EFL Cup that halts progress.

Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet fitness and upcoming fixtures

Reflecting on the shoulder issue that ended the campaign in France, Jacquet explains that recovery has gone well and stresses that readiness for pre-season under Iraola should not be in doubt, with medical staff having already cleared the defender to rejoin group sessions before the transfer was completed.

“I feel much improved and I will be 100% ready because I’m a little ahead of schedule,” he said. “I was given the go-ahead to start a programme of training with the group [at Rennes] but it was a bit late to be with the team. But with continued hard work, I’ll be fully fit before the season.”

Liverpool’s pre-season schedule includes matches in the United States against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds United, followed by Anfield friendlies versus Monaco and Como in August, before the first Premier League fixture under Iraola away to Newcastle United on 23 August and then a home meeting with Nottingham Forest the following week.

Jacquet’s arrival, fitness update and strong Ligue 1 numbers, combined with Van Dijk’s heavy workload and Konate’s exit, show why Liverpool move early in 2026 to strengthen central defence, with Iraola set to assess the new signing closely during the United States tour and the subsequent August fixtures at Anfield.