Chelsea sign Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for £52m
Chelsea have reached an agreement with Crystal Palace to sign French centre‑back Maxence Lacroix for a fee reported between £51 million and £60 million. The 26‑year‑old will undergo a medical before completing a six‑year contract that runs until 2032.
Lacroix, a former Wolfsburg defender, made 55 league appearances for Palace, helped the club win the FA Cup, the Community Shield and the UEFA Conference League, and was selected for France’s 2026 World Cup squad. The transfer was confirmed by Fabrizio Romano and reported by The Athletic, Sky Sports and other outlets.
The move follows new manager Xabi Alonso’s defensive overhaul, with Chelsea also targeting other centre‑backs such as John Stones. Palace have begun looking for a replacement, naming Augsburg’s Chrislain Matsima and Trabzonspor defender Chibuike Nwaiwu as possible options.