Liverpool complete £60m signing of Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes

Jérémy Jacquet has officially completed his £60m move to Liverpool, with the defender signing a five-year contract at Anfield, plus the option of an extra year.

Liverpool beat Chelsea and Bayern Munich to the signature of the highly rated Rennes centre-half in January and on Wednesday confirmed the transfer has been completed subject to international clearance. The 20-year-old has cost an initial £55m with £5m payable in add-ons.

“I feel really good, the first impressions are good and I am very happy to start here,” Jacquet said. “I am very happy. When I see the facilities, I can see myself there. I feel good here and I am very excited to get started. For me it’s a big dream, it’s a big club. A club like Liverpool, it’s a big dream for me.”

Jacquet suffered a serious shoulder injury within days of Liverpool’s agreement being announced in January. He has successfully completed a rehabilitation programme and is currently doing individual fitness work with a view to being fit for the start of Andoni Iraola’s first pre-season as Liverpool head coach.

A France Under-21s international, Jacquet will be among the starting options at centre-back for Andoni Iraola, the new coach, alongside Virgil van Dijk, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez. Leoni’s first season at Anfield was ruined by an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained on his debut but he is also expected to be fit for the start of pre-season.

The signing of Jacquet continues Liverpool’s efforts to lower the average age of their first-team squad.