Friday, July 31, 2026 - Chelsea have completed the signing of France defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in a deal worth £52 million.
The 26-year-old centre-back has signed a contract with the
Blues until 2032, becoming the club’s third arrival of the summer transfer
window.
"I am really happy to be part of this beautiful club.
Everyone knows the legend of Chelsea, its tradition of winning, and to be a
part of that is a proud moment," he said.
"When I spoke with the manager, I saw that we have the
same direction and desire for this club.
"We want to win. When you see the quality of the
players here, everything we have around the club, it's something that we can
achieve. The ambition is to lift trophies, and I can’t wait to
contribute."
Lacroix becomes Chelsea’s third summer acquisition under new
manager Xabi Alonso, following Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra, as the club
looks to rebound from a 10th-place Premier League finish.
Lacroix earned a place in France's World Cup squad and made
three appearances, including a start against England in their third-place
play-off defeat.
Palace signed Lacroix from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in
August 2024, and he played 98 times in two seasons for the Eagles.
New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso is also keen to add experience
to his squad ahead of the new season, with 35-year-old striker Danny Welbeck on
the brink of joining the club on a two-year deal from Brighton.
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