Liverpool have landed one of Europe’s most coveted young defenders. Jeremy Jacquet, the 20-year-old French centre-back, officially completed his transfer from Stade Rennais on July 1, with the deal carrying a price tag of £55 million plus £5 million in potential add-ons.

And the reason he picked Anfield over Stamford Bridge? Pretty simple, actually. He wants to learn from Virgil van Dijk.

A transfer months in the making

The agreement between Liverpool and Rennais was first reached back on February 2, 2026, giving both clubs nearly five months to finalize the paperwork before Jacquet’s arrival became official at the start of July. The total package could reach as high as £60 million depending on performance-based incentives, a figure that some reports have pegged at €60 million plus an additional €10 million in bonuses.

That kind of fee for a player who only turned 20 on July 13, 2025, tells you exactly how highly regarded Jacquet is across European scouting networks. His new contract runs until 2031, with an option to extend for an additional year.

The van Dijk factor

Jacquet cited the opportunity to train alongside van Dijk and fellow French international Ibrahima Konaté as a key factor in choosing Liverpool over Chelsea, who were also pursuing his signature.

Scouts who have tracked Jacquet’s development at Rennais have drawn direct comparisons to van Dijk, noting similarities in both defensive positioning and build-up play.