Jeremy Jacquet‘s season is expected to end prematurely with the incoming Liverpool centre-back set for surgery to repair a serious shoulder injury.
Jacquet dislocated his shoulder in Rennes’ 3-1 loss to Lens on February 7 but player and club delayed a decision on whether he would undergo surgery.
Almost a month later it has been determined that, following attempts to rehab the injury with work in the gym, the 20-year-old will require an operation which will almost certainly end his season.
Ouest France report that Liverpool allowed Rennes and Jacquet to make the final decision over surgery and the defender was “determined” to avoid it.
But his shoulder did not improve with treatment and surgery became “inevitable.”
Why Jeremy Jacquet required surgery for dislocated shoulder
3A4WXED Jeremy JACQUET of Rennes during the French championship Ligue 1 football match between Stade Rennais (Rennes) and Losc Lille on 16 February 2025 at Roazhon Park in Rennes, France - Photo Matthieu Mirville/DPPI Credit: DPPI Media/Alamy Live News
Jacquet’s chances of playing again this season are rated as “extremely slim,” which should come as no surprise given Rennes’ campaign ends on May 16.
It will be a bitter blow for the youngster, who joined Rennes as a 14-year-old in 2019 and came through the academy to become a first-team staple, and this term had hoped to push his boyhood club to European football.
Now he must focus on his recovery ahead of a move to Merseyside in the summer, with Liverpool having agreed a deal worth £60 million at the end of the winter transfer window.
Recovery Timeline: Shoulder Luxation Surgery
For a professional athlete, the standard return-to-play window following surgery for a shoulder luxation (dislocation) is typically 4 to 6 months.
• Weeks 0-6: Immobilisation
The arm is kept in a sling to allow the surgical repair to heal and ligaments to reattach to the bone.
• Weeks 6-12: Range of Motion
Sling is removed. Physical therapy begins to restore flexibility, but contact and heavy lifting are strictly prohibited.
• Months 3-4: Strength & Conditioning
Focus shifts to rebuilding the rotator cuff. Non-contact training on the grass begins to maintain cardiovascular fitness.
• Months 5-6: Contact & Match Fitness
Full-contact training and ‘controlled falling’ drills are reintroduced. Cleared for competitive action once match sharpness returns.
The benefit of Jacquet’s surgery is that, all being well, he can be fit in time for the start of pre-season at the AXA Training Centre in July.
However there is a chance his recovery continues into the start of the season – with a four-to-six-month timeframe possible.
Arne Slot will hope to have the Frenchman involved again along with Conor Bradley and perhaps even Giovanni Leoni, though all three will be approached with caution.
If he has played his last game for Rennes, Jacquet will leave having made 33 appearances for their senior side, establishing himself as a first-choice starter following a successful loan spell with Clermont in Ligue 2.
Will Jeremy Jacquet be a starter for Liverpool next season?
2WW4J96 Assen, The Netherlands. 20th Mar, 2024. Jeremy Jacquet (6) of France pictured during a soccer game between the national under 19 teams of France and Belgium on matchday 1 in group 2 of the UEFA Under-19 Elite round on Wednesday 20 March 2024 in Assen, The Netherlands . (Photo by David Catry/Sportpix/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
He is likely to join Liverpool as a backup centre-back initially, with the club still hoping to tie Ibrahima Konate down to a new long-term contract.
That would see Konate keep his place as **Virgil van Dijk**‘s partner but with Slot able to rotate more freely with Jacquet and Leoni both genuine options when fit.
Joe Gomez faces a more uncertain future heading into the summer, having been open to a move to AC Milan at the start of the season – when Liverpool were negotiating a deal for Marc Guehi.
The versatile defender will have a year left on his contract as of July 1 and has attracted interest from a number of clubs.
Jeremy Jacquet Shoulder Surgery: Key Info & Recovery Timeline
What is the injury?
Jeremy Jacquet has suffered a luxation (dislocation) of his left shoulder. Due to the recurring nature of the issue, surgery is required to stabilise the joint and repair the labrum or surrounding ligaments to prevent future drop-outs.
How long is the typical recovery for a shoulder luxation surgery?
For a high-level defender, the recovery process is extensive to ensure the joint can withstand the physical impact of aerial duels and challenges. The standard return-to-play window is 4 to 6 months.
• Weeks 0-6: Immobilisation
The arm is kept in a sling 24/7. Focus is strictly on protecting the surgical repair and allowing the tissue to reattach to the bone.
• Weeks 6-12: Range of Motion
The sling is removed. Physical therapy begins to restore movement, but heavy lifting or contact remains strictly prohibited.
• Months 3-4: Strength & Conditioning
Focus shifts to rebuilding the deltoid and rotator cuff muscles. Non-contact training on the grass begins, focusing on lower-body fitness.
• Months 5-6: Contact & Match Fitness
The player is cleared for full-contact training and ‘falling’ drills. A return to competitive action follows after match sharpness is regained.
When will Jeremy Jacquet return to action?
With surgery scheduled for March 2026, Jacquet is officially out for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. A best-case scenario puts his return during the 2026/27 pre-season (July/August), though a cautious approach could see him sidelined until September.