Chelsea have completed the signing of Maxence Lacroix, a defender for France’s national team, from Crystal Palace in a deal worth £52m. The 26-year-old player, who has been capped seven times by France, has signed a contract with Chelsea that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2032.
Lacroix initially joined Palace from the German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in 2024 for a fee of £15.5m. During his time at Palace, he became a regular player under the management of Oliver Glasner, particularly during the last season. He made a total of 55 appearances for the club in all competitions, which included the team’s successful campaign in the Uefa Conference League, a competition that yielded Palace’s first major European trophy.
On the international stage, Lacroix represented France in the 2026 World Cup, making three appearances for his country, including a match against England in the third-place play-off. France ultimately finished the tournament in fourth place.
Upon joining Chelsea, Lacroix expressed his enthusiasm and pride at being part of the team, stating that he is excited to play alongside notable players like Reece James and Morgan Rogers. He views his move to Chelsea as an opportunity to contribute to the club’s story and is eager to start the new season under the management of Xabi Alonso.
Lacroix’s signing marks Chelsea’s third acquisition during the summer transfer window, following the arrivals of Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra. The club had previously agreed on deals for winger Geovany Quenda and forward Emmanuel Emegha in 2025, with both players formalizing their moves to Chelsea this month. Additionally, Chelsea is currently engaged in negotiations to sign striker Danny Welbeck from Brighton and midfielder Jordan Henderson from Brentford.
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