Jeremy Jacquet’s long-planned move to Liverpool has been thrown into early disarray by the impending departure of fellow Frenchman Ibrahima Konaté, a player the 20-year-old had openly spoken of as a mentor to help him settle at Anfield.
Jacquet, who agreed a £60 million move from Stade Rennais on deadline day in January, is due to officially become a Liverpool player this summer. But with Konaté reportedly set to leave on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of June, the young defender will need to adjust to life on Merseyside without one of the key figures he was relying on.
In an interview with French newspaper Ouest-France, Jacquet explained that part of his decision to choose Liverpool over Chelsea was the chance to train with Virgil van Dijk and fellow Frenchman Ibrahima Konaté. “He’s going to teach me so much,” Jacquet said of Konaté. “There’s also Ibou Konate, who can help me settle in. Training with guys like that, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Konaté’s exit leaves a defensive void
Multiple reports now indicate that Konaté will depart Liverpool after five seasons, despite manager Arne Slot expressing a desire to keep him and Konaté himself stating in April that talks were “close to an agreement”. In a significant shift, those negotiations have broken down, meaning the 27-year-old is set to leave on a free—a blow for a club that paid RB Leipzig £36 million for his services in 2021.
Konaté made 183 appearances for Liverpool, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and two Carabao Cups. His exit, alongside the departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, marks a substantial break from the Jürgen Klopp era. With Virgil van Dijk turning 35 in July and his own contract running only until 2027, Liverpool’s defensive spine is undergoing a rapid transition.
Arne Slot has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of Konaté’s situation, saying only: “If there is a resolution, then we will tell the world. At the moment, we will share it the moment that it is [confirmed].”
Jacquet’s signing and the recovery from injury
Liverpool moved swiftly to secure Jacquet on transfer deadline day, beating Chelsea to his signature. Standard Sport understands the deal is worth a guaranteed £55 million, with a further £5 million in add-ons. He has signed a contract running until 2031, with an option for a further year.
As part of the agreement, Jacquet remained with Rennes for the remainder of the 2025–26 season. However, just days after his transfer was announced, he dislocated his shoulder, an injury that required surgery and ended his campaign in early February. He has not featured for the Ligue 1 side since.
Despite that setback, his rehabilitation is understood to be progressing well. There is every expectation that the 20-year-old will be fit for the start of Liverpool’s pre-season training in early July. That timeline is a significant boost for the club, given the defensive injury concerns already on the books—including Giovanni Leoni, who is recovering from an ACL injury, and Joe Gomez, whose contract has only a year remaining.
Jacquet is regarded as a highly-rated young centre-back, with scout reports highlighting his strength in aerial duels, defensive positioning and his willingness to carry the ball out from the back. His long limbs are seen as a valuable asset for winning possession, though he can be prone to mistakes under pressure. He himself acknowledged the weight of his price tag, telling Ouest-France: “I won’t say it was a quick one, because I took my time with this big step, but I quickly saw myself at Liverpool. I’ll be 21 in July. For me, there’s the sporting project and the personal project.”
With Konaté now heading for the exit, Jacquet’s integration into Liverpool’s defence—and his partnership with an ageing Van Dijk—becomes even more critical. The disruption he faces is not merely emotional; it is structural, removing the senior French international he had counted on to guide him through his first months in English football.
