A Transfer Fee Triple His Market Value! Liverpool’s Bet on the New Van Dijk

Written by Han Bing When the winter window shut, Liverpool completed a headline-grabbing €60 million signing. But this 20-year-old player is not part of the winter intake since he will join in the summer. Unable to acquire their current key center-back Guy, Liverpool chose to invest in the future—Rennes defender Jérémy Doku (valued at €20 million) is seen as the new Van Dijk. Liverpool paid a transfer fee three times his market value, marking the biggest defensive gamble in the club’s history.

There are two reported figures for Doku’s transfer fee: British media cite £55 million (€63.6 million) plus £5 million, while French sources mention €60 million plus €12 million. Regardless of the version, he is the most expensive U21 defender in the Premier League and ranks second worldwide among U21 defenders, only behind De Ligt’s €85.5 million (Juventus). He surpasses Manchester City’s Doku (€60 million) and is Rennes’ most expensive player ever sold.

On Liverpool’s transfer value list, Doku ranks eighth overall and third among defenders, trailing only goalkeeper Alisson (£72.5 million) and center-back Van Dijk (£84.65 million). Yet, when Alisson joined, he had a full season as a starting goalkeeper in Serie A, and Van Dijk had two and a half seasons as a Premier League starter. In contrast, Doku only has 31 starting appearances in Ligue 1.

Sharing a surname with a French legendary coach, Doku grew up in Bondy, northeast Paris, hometown to Mbappé, Muani, and Saliba. He is of Guadeloupean descent, a Caribbean island known as a rich source of French football talent. Notables like Henry, Thuram, Gallas, Angloma, Dacourt, Martial, Lacazette, Lemar, and Coman also hail from Guadeloupe.

Doku joined Rennes’ youth academy at 14. His teammates Ter (Bayern/Tottenham), Bellossian (Leverkusen), and Doué (Paris Saint-Germain) all began their professional careers earlier and moved to top clubs sooner.

Now standing 1.90 meters tall, Doku’s delayed rise was due to growth-related health issues during his youth. He made his professional debut at 18 and a half in January 2024. By the end of the 2024/25 season, he was a starter and helped France’s U19 team win runner-up in the U19 European Championship, earning a spot in the tournament’s Best XI. Rather than staying in Ligue 1, Doku chose to go on loan to Ligue 2’s Clermont Foot. Many questioned this move, but Doku was confident: “I know why I made this choice; in Ligue 2, I get consistent playing time, which is very beneficial for me.”

In early 2025, due to Doku’s strong performances in Ligue 2, relegation-threatened Rennes recalled him early, paying a €900,000 penalty. Doku started 11 matches in the season’s latter half, helping Rennes avoid relegation. In the first half of this season, he started 19 Ligue 1 games, convincing Liverpool to secure him early. His Ligue 1 stats are impressive: 1.5 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game, winning 4.4 duels (66% success rate) and 1.9 aerial challenges (63% success rate), with a 67% tackle success rate. His aerial ability ranks third among U23 center-backs in the top five leagues (76%).

As a youth, Doku idolized Pogba and transitioned from midfield to center-back in Rennes’ academy. His ball skills are a major strength. This season, he averages 71 touches and 116 passes per 90 minutes, leading all U23 center-backs in the top five leagues. His pass accuracy is 91%, including 54% on long balls. Doku’s proactive defensive awareness, strong attacking instincts, and excellent passing make him a near-perfect fit for Liverpool’s high-pressing style.

Doku chose Liverpool in the winter window over Chelsea, who had shown earlier interest, because Liverpool could offer more playing time. Chelsea’s center-back roster is overcrowded, and Doku did not want to be lost in fierce competition. Moreover, Liverpool’s Van Dijk and Konaté are also idols for Doku as a center-back. However, he considers Varane his “template” and says, “I like his style.”

Liverpool decided to let Doku stay at Rennes to continue developing rather than rushing him into the Premier League’s intense, fast-paced battles. This approach avoids forcing progress and also addresses concerns about Doku’s injury history. The young player has already suffered several injuries, missing the U21 European Championship last summer due to fitness issues.

Doku’s talent and potential are clear, and Liverpool’s heavy investment in this defender rarely misses the mark. Whether he fulfills expectations remains to be seen and only time will tell.