Liverpool complete $79.6 million signing of Jeremy Jacquet as injury fears eased

Jeremy Jacquet has successfully wrapped up his recovery from shoulder surgery and will be fit for Liverpool‘s preseason program, which kicks off later this month.

The center-back’s transfer from Rennes, agreed back in January, was officially finalized on Wednesday.

The Reds will pay an initial £55 million ($73 million) with a further £5 million ($6.64 million) in add-ons, making him the second most expensive defender in Anfield history, behind only Virgil van Dijk, who arrived for £75 million ($99 million) from Southampton in January 2018.

Jacquet sustained a season-ending shoulder injury shortly after his summer switch was confirmed on transfer deadline day earlier this year, but the 20-year-old has since completed his rehabilitation, meaning he will be immediately available for new manager Andoni Iraola.

The ECHO understands Jacquet has put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the option of a sixth, as he prepares to battle for a starting spot alongside Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni, and club captain Van Dijk, who is expected to feature in the summer tour of the United States following the Netherlands’ elimination from the FIFA World Cup at the Round of 32 stage on Monday.

“I feel really good, the first impressions are good and I am very happy to start here,” Jacquet told Liverpoolfc.com.

“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.”

Liverpool beat out numerous European suitors during the winter transfer window, particularly Chelsea, and it’s believed the young defender is keen to learn from two-time Premier League champion Van Dijk, who celebrates his 35th birthday this month.

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Jacquet suffered an awkward fall in the second half of Rennes’ 3-1 loss to Lens in Ligue 1 in early February and departed the field in clear pain before it was subsequently confirmed he would require surgery.

Nevertheless, after undergoing surgery several weeks following the injury, Jacquet has returned to training during his summer break, following a personalized conditioning program in preparation for his arrival at the AXA Training Centre later this month.

Jacquet arrives 11 months after 19-year-old Leoni was acquired for just under £30 million ($41 million) from Parma, with Liverpool convinced they have secured the two finest young defenders from France and Italy.

The timeline for Leoni’s recovery from the ACL injury he suffered on his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup last September remains uncertain. That said, the young Italian has been working out in the gym at the AXA Centre for quite some time, and an update is anticipated this month from new manager Iraola.

Jacquet arrives at the club on the same day Real Madrid officially completed their move for Ibrahima Konate, who departs Liverpool as a free agent. The Merseyside club had been engaged in negotiations with the defender’s representatives for nearly two years but were unable to strike a deal, allowing the French international to join the La Liga powerhouse at no cost.