Liverpool have officially completed the £60m signing of French centre-back Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes, while Chelsea have announced the £47m acquisition of Italian right-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta. Both deals were confirmed on Wednesday, marking significant additions to the Premier League clubs' squads.
Jacquet Joins Liverpool
The 20-year-old France Under-21 international has signed a five-year contract with Liverpool, with an option for an extra year. The transfer fee is an initial £55m, with £5m in potential add-ons. Liverpool beat Chelsea and Bayern Munich to secure Jacquet's signature in January, and the move has now been completed subject to international clearance.
Jacquet expressed his excitement about joining the club: "I feel really good, the first impressions are good and I am very happy to start here. 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."
Within days of Liverpool's agreement being announced in January, Jacquet suffered a serious shoulder injury. He has since 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. Jacquet will be among the centre-back options 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 also expected to be fit for pre-season. Ibrahima Konaté left Liverpool at the end of his contract to join Real Madrid this summer, and Jacquet's signing continues Liverpool's efforts to lower the average age of their first-team squad.
Palestra Moves to Chelsea
Marco Palestra, a 20-year-old Italy international, moves from Serie A to Stamford Bridge after a successful loan spell at Cagliari from Atalanta. He becomes the first signing of Xabi Alonso's tenure as Chelsea manager, signing a seven-year contract until 2033. The transfer fee is £47m.
Palestra 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 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."
The arrival of Palestra follows left-back Marc Cucurella's £52m move to Real Madrid. Chelsea have also secured the transfers of Sporting winger Geovany Quenda and Strasbourg striker Emmanuel Emegha in previously agreed deals this summer.
