Chelsea secures Maxence Lacroix
Chelsea has reached an agreement with Crystal Palace for the transfer of defender Maxence Lacroix. The France international is expected to join Chelsea on a long-term contract, following discussions between the two London clubs. Personal terms are not anticipated to be an obstacle, and Lacroix is scheduled for a medical examination within the next 24 hours. His contract is understood to extend until 2032.
The agreement between the clubs was negotiated at the ownership level. Reports indicate that Crystal Palace had been seeking around £60m for the centre-back. One report suggests the fee is in the region of £51m. Crystal Palace has also been given the opportunity to discuss signing one of Chelsea’s available defenders during the transfer talks. Players like Axel Disasi, Trevoh Chalobah, and Benoit Badiashile have reportedly attracted interest from other clubs.
Lacroix’s impact at Crystal Palace
Maxence Lacroix, who is 26 years old, joined Crystal Palace from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in August 2024 for an initial fee of £15.5m, with potential add-ons of £2.6m. He has since established himself as a consistent central defender in the Premier League. During his time at Crystal Palace, he made 55 appearances in all competitions under manager Oliver Glasner last season.
Lacroix played a key role in Crystal Palace’s success, including their victory in the Uefa Conference League, which marked the club’s first major European trophy. He also featured in Palace’s Community Shield win against Liverpool and contributed to the team’s strong Premier League campaign. His performances earned him a spot in France’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, where he made three appearances, including starts against Norway and England in the third-place play-off, as Les Bleus finished fourth.
Why Chelsea targeted the defender
Chelsea’s interest in Lacroix stems from his impressive two seasons in English football. During the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, he was the only player to record at least 50 tackles (60), 200 duels won (204), and 250 clearances (252). Standing at 6ft 4in, Lacroix combines aerial strength with notable recovery pace. Since his arrival in 2024, he has been among the five fastest centre-backs in the Premier League, achieving a top speed of 35.81km/h (22.3mph).
His athleticism is also evident in his defensive statistics. Over the past two Premier League seasons, Lacroix achieved the best success rate in one-on-one defensive situations among players who faced at least 50 such duels, winning possession 50.5% of the time. He is also tactically versatile, comfortable playing in both a back four and a back three. He spent two seasons in Oliver Glasner’s three-man defence at Crystal Palace and has demonstrated his ability to perform effectively in a more traditional back four. This adaptability offers additional options for Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso, who has utilized both systems in his coaching career.
Crystal Palace has been focusing on other centre-back options, including Augsburg’s Chrislain Matsima, though negotiations have reportedly been slow. The club has shown interest in several centre-backs since the January window, when Marc Guehi was transferred to Manchester City. Other players of interest have included Toulouse’s Charlie Cresswell, Lyon’s Ruben Kluivert, and Trabzonspor’s Chibuke Nwaiwu, who is also being monitored by Fulham.
Chelsea’s other summer business has included several acquisitions, such as Geovany Quenda from Sporting for £43.5m, Marco Palestra from Atalanta for £43m, and Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m. Notable departures include Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid for £51.8m and Andrey Santos to Manchester United for £50m.
Source: bbc.com
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