Chelsea Opens Direct Talks to Sign a Rising Defensive Star from Rennes
17 January 2026
Chelsea opens direct talks for Rennes defender
The Blues target one of Europe’s best defensive talents.
What this means for Chelsea and the January window
Chelsea's management has entered direct talks with Rennes over signing Jeremie Jakie, the defender of the French club.
Fabrizio Romano, Europe’s premier transfer expert, says Chelsea has had direct contact with Rennes in the last 24 hours as serious talks progress to sign the young defender during the current January window.
The London club, under new coach Liam Rosinior, aims to accelerate the deal before next summer to stay ahead of growing competition from major European clubs like Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool, all watching the player closely.
Jakie is one of the best defensive talents in Ligue 1, starring for Rennes this season, though the French club—tied to the player's contract through 2029—prefers to delay any sale until season's end and values him at around €60-66 million (the same figure previously paid for Jeremie Doku to Manchester City).
Punchline 1: Chelsea might need more than a key to unlock this deal; they may need a tiny moat for all the bidders.
Punchline 2: If this transfer slips away, at least the defense will still be excellent at keeping the coffee warm on matchdays.
