Liverpool landed Jeremy Jacquet on Transfer Deadline Day - and the Frenchman idolised Virgil van Dijk while growing up in the same Parisian suburb as Kylian Mbappe
21:21, 03 Feb 2026
Jeremy Jacquet
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Jeremy Jacquet signed for Liverpool on Transfer Deadline Day(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool stunned fans on Transfer Deadline Day as Arne Slot dived into the market to sign one of Europe's hottest prospects.
The Reds forked out £55m plus a potential £5m in performance-related add-ons for Jeremy Jacquet, who will join up with his new team-mates in the summer. Chelsea had also been monitoring the situation, but the Frenchman seemingly snubbed the Blues.
French football expert Julian Laurens is high on the youngster, and he told Sky Sports: "He's the real deal. I know he's only 20, he hasn't played for France and he hasn't played in the Champions League or Europa League.
Virgil van Dijk
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Virgil van Dijk was idolised by the youngster(Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)
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"He has a long way to go but he's been impressive last season, after they [Rennes] called him back from his loan in the second division, and this season, with Habib Beye. You can't get it wrong. He is going to be amazing.
"He reminds me of when William Saliba burst onto the scene in France with Saint-Etienne, or Wesley Fofana.
"It's about how much you value that potential and talent. You would pay a lot of money for someone who hasn't really proved much. It's a lot of money for such a young player."
Jacquet hails from Bondy, the same Parisian suburb which Kylian Mbappe, William Saliba and Randal Kolo Muani all grew up in. North east of the centre, it's located within the Seine-Saint-Denis department.
However, it was at Rennes, a city in the east of Brittany, where he would graduate from an academy - spending time in their youth system alongside Desire Doue, a Champions League winner with PSG, and Spurs' Mathys Tel.
Jacquet had been a Paul Pogba superfan, but after being moved to centre-back he idolised Virgil van Dijk.
Jacquet made his first-team debut for Rennes in January 2024, but was soon moved out on loan to Ligue 1 strugglers Clermont Foot 63. And even after they were relegated, his loan spell was extended after success with the French U19s squad.
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However, in February 2025, he was recalled by Rennes and has since become a fixture in Habib Beye’s first team.
Speaking about his game, Jacquet said: “I’m calm on the ball, maybe I can look a bit nonchalant - but I’m focused.
“What defines me is playing out well, breaking lines with the right pass.”