Liverpool have officially confirmed the signing of Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet in a deal worth up to £60m, with the 20-year-old now set to join the club's first-team squad ahead of pre-season.

The move was agreed on Deadline Day in February, when Jacquet passed his medical with the Premier League champions. He spent the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign at Rennes before making the switch to Anfield this summer.

Liverpool paid a fixed fee of £55m, with a further £5m available in performance-related add-ons. Jacquet signed a five-year contract, with the option of an additional year.

Chelsea pipped to the signing

Chelsea had tabled an identical offer, but Jacquet chose Liverpool — a decision that reflects the club's growing appeal as a destination for Europe's brightest young talent. Over the past two transfer windows, the average age of Liverpool's first-team signings has been below 22.

Jacquet sustained a shoulder injury earlier this year, but he has completed his rehabilitation programme and returned to individual fitness work. He is expected to be available from the start of pre-season training.

At Anfield, he will compete for a starting berth alongside Virgil van Dijk, Geovanni Leoni, and Joe Gomez.

Expert verdict: enormous potential, limited top-level experience

French football expert Julien Laurens was emphatic in his assessment of the new signing.