Liverpool have officially completed the £60m signing of Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes, while Chelsea have announced the £47m acquisition of Marco Palestra from Atalanta. The deals were unveiled on Wednesday, marking major additions to both Premier League squads ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Jacquet joins Liverpool for £60m
The 20-year-old France Under-21 centre-back moves to Anfield after Liverpool beat Chelsea and Bayern Munich to his signature in January. The transfer fee is structured as an initial £55m with £5m in add-ons. Jacquet has signed a five-year contract with the option of an extra year.
“I feel really good, the first impressions are good and I am very happy to start here,” Jacquet said. “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 shortly after the January agreement was announced. He has completed a rehabilitation programme and is currently doing individual fitness work, aiming to be fit for the start of Andoni Iraola’s first pre-season as Liverpool head coach.
Defensive options for Iraola
Jacquet will compete for a starting centre-back role alongside Virgil van Dijk, Giovanni Leoni, and Joe Gomez. Leoni’s debut season at Anfield was cut short by an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but he is expected to be fit for pre-season. Ibrahima Konaté left the club at the end of his contract this summer to join Real Madrid. The signing of Jacquet is part of Liverpool’s strategy to lower the average age of their first-team squad.
Palestra becomes first Alonso signing at Chelsea
Marco Palestra, a 20-year-old Italy right-back, moves to Stamford Bridge from Atalanta after a successful loan spell at Cagliari. He becomes the first signing of Xabi Alonso’s tenure as Chelsea manager, signing a seven-year contract until 2033.
“I’m very excited to get started. I’ve felt the energy since the first day Chelsea wanted me. I can’t wait to start, see all the fans, my team-mates and the manager. We have so many talented players here, a very strong squad and manager in Xabi. He has spoken to me about how he wants us to play, which is exciting, and we can’t wait to compete in the Premier League,” Palestra said.
Summer moves at Chelsea
Palestra’s arrival follows the departure of left-back Marc Cucurella, who left for Real Madrid in a £52m move. Chelsea have also secured the previously agreed transfers of Sporting winger Geovany Quenda and Strasbourg striker Emmanuel Emegha this summer.
