20-year-old centre-back moves to Anfield from Rennes
Italy right-back signs seven-year deal at Blues
Jérémy Jacquet has officially completed his £60m move to Liverpool from Rennes, while Chelsea have announced the £47m signing of the Atalanta right-back Marco Palestra.
Liverpool beat Chelsea and Bayern Munich to the signature of the highly rated France Under-21 centre-half in January and on Wednesday confirmed the transfer has been completed subject to international clearance. The 20-year-old has cost an initial £55m with £5m payable in add-ons, and 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. “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.”
Jacquet sustained a serious shoulder injury within days of Liverpool’s agreement being announced in January. He has successfully completed a rehabilitation programme and is doing individual fitness work with a view to being fit for the start of Andoni Iraola’s first pre-season as Liverpool head coach.
Jacquet will be among the starting options at centre-back for Iraola, alongside Virgil van Dijk, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez. Leoni’s first season at Anfield was ruined by an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained on his debut but he is also expected to be fit for the start of pre-season. Ibrahima Konaté left the club at the end of contract this summer to join Real Madrid. The signing of Jacquet continues Liverpool’s efforts to lower the average age of their first-team squad.
Palestra, meanwhile, moves from Serie A to Stamford Bridge after enjoying a successful season at Cagliari, on loan from Atalanta. He becomes the first signing of Xabi Alonso’s tenure as Chelsea manager, signing a seven-year contract until 2033.
The Italy international said: “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 teammates 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.”
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The youngster joins after the left-back Marc Cucurella left for Real Madrid in a £52m move. Also moving to Chelsea this summer are the Sporting winger Geovany Quenda and the Strasbourg striker Emmanuel Emegha in previously agreed transfers.
