Chelsea signed Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for £52 million on Thursday. The 26-year-old France international put pen to paper on a contract that runs until 2032.
Lacroix becomes one of the early arrivals under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso. He joins after a successful two-year spell at Crystal Palace.
Lacroix began his career at Sochaux before moving to Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg in 2020. Crystal Palace then signed him in 2024 for an initial fee reported around £15.5 million to £18 million.
At Selhurst Park he established himself as a regular under manager Oliver Glasner. Last season he made 55 appearances in all competitions and contributed three goals plus three assists. Crystal Palace won the UEFA Conference League, their first major European trophy. He also helped the club claim the FA Cup in 2025.
Across two seasons Lacroix made 98 appearances for Crystal Palace, starting every one. He recorded team-high numbers in interceptions, clearances and aerial duels.
Meanwhile Lacroix earned seven caps for France. He featured three times at the 2026 World Cup as Les Bleus finished fourth. One of those appearances came in the third-place play-off against England.
Chelsea issued a statement that described Lacroix as arriving “with the reputation of being among European football’s most commanding centre-backs, as well as one of the fastest and best aerial defenders in the Premier League.”
In his own words Lacroix said: “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. When I spoke with the manager, I saw that we have the same direction and desire for this club. We want to win.” He later added: “I think it’s the best move for me because it’s the best club in the world.”
The transfer followed lengthy negotiations between the two London clubs. Lacroix gave the green light after France’s World Cup campaign ended.
