Chelsea pursue Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix

Fabrizio Romano reported that Chelsea remain keen on signing French centre‑back Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace. The 26‑year‑old, who has a contract with Palace until 2029, featured in 55 matches last season, scoring three goals and providing three assists, and is regarded as one of the Premier League’s most promising defenders.

Lacroix, born on 6 April 2000 in Villeneuve‑Saint‑Georges, progressed through the youth system at FC Sochaux before moving to VfL Wolfsburg in 2020, where he became a regular starter. He joined Crystal Palace in 2024, helped the club win the FA Cup in 2025, and earned his first senior call‑up for the France national team in March 2026.