Chelsea have completed the £52m signing of France 26‑year‑old centre‑back defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace until 2032, becoming the Blues’ third summer arrival.
Lacroix, capped seven times by France, joined Palace from Wolfsburg in 2024 for £15.5 million and quickly became a key figure under Oliver Glasner, making 55 appearances last season as Palace won the UEFA Conference League, their first major European trophy.
The defender also featured three times for France at the 2026 World Cup, including the third-place play-off against England, as Les Bleus finished fourth.
Chelsea identified Lacroix as a priority signing after concerns over defensive performances. The club wanted more physicality and leadership at the back, other options, including John Stones and Jacopo Ramon, were considered, but Lacroix emerged as the preferred choice.
Negotiations with Palace took time, but Lacroix approved the move after France’s World Cup campaign ended.
Lacroix joins Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra as Chelsea’s new signings under manager Xabi Alonso, with his arrival reflecting Chelsea’s shift in transfer strategy after finishing 10th last season without a trophy.
Co-owner Behdad Eghbali had said the club would add more experience to balance a squad built around young talents like Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, and Levi Colwill.
Lacroix becomes the oldest player signed under the current ownership, highlighting the push for established names. Chelsea also explored a move for Granit Xhaka, but that deal collapsed. Alongside Rogers, Lacroix’s signing fulfils the plan to add ready-made players ahead of the new campaign.
