Chelsea have signed defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for a fee of £52 million. The announcement was made on July 30, with Lacroix agreeing to a contract that runs until 2032.
Reports regarding the transfer fee vary slightly by source. While Chelsea and other outlets cite the £52 million figure, Sky Sport reported the fee as €60 million. There is also a discrepancy regarding Lacroix’s age; while most sources list him as 26, some reports state he is 25.
Lacroix becomes Chelsea’s third signing of the summer transfer window, following the arrivals of Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra. The club had previously agreed deals for wingers Geovany Quenda and forward Emmanuel Emegha in 2025, with both players completing their moves this month.
Tactical shift and recruitment strategy
The move comes as Chelsea prepare for their first season under new manager Xabi Alonso. The club finished 10th in the Premier League last season and ended the campaign without a trophy, a result that prompted frustration among supporters and highlighted underperformance in defence.
Co-owner Behdad Eghbali stated that the club would 'tweak' its model to add experience to a strong core of young players, including Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill. Lacroix is the oldest player signed under the current ownership since Eghbali and his sporting directors took control.
Chelsea’s recruitment team had Lacroix as their preferred target over John Stones and Jacobo Ramon. The club also attempted to sign 34-year-old Granit Xhaka from Sunderland, a move considered highly unusual for their strategy. The attempt to sign Xhaka, who could not be reunited with former Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, signaled a change in approach.
Player profile and recent form
Lacroix, who stands 6ft 4in tall, made 55 appearances in all competitions last season as Crystal Palace won the UEFA Conference League, the club’s first major European trophy. He recorded three goals and three assists during that campaign.
He made 98 appearances in all competitions during his two seasons at Crystal Palace, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield. Before joining Palace in 2024, he made 130 appearances for Wolfsburg and 28 senior appearances for Sochaux, where he began his career.
There are conflicting reports regarding the fee Crystal Palace paid to sign Lacroix from Wolfsburg in 2024. Some sources state an initial £15.5 million, while others report a fee of £18 million ($24.09 million).
On the international stage, Lacroix has been capped seven times by France. He made his debut in March 2026 and made three appearances at the 2026 World Cup, including playing against England in the third-place play-off. France finished fourth in the tournament.
Lacroix gave the move the green light after France’s World Cup campaign ended. Lengthy negotiations over personal terms and the transfer fee with Crystal Palace had previously added uncertainty to the deal.
Chelsea are currently in talks to sign Brighton striker Danny Welbeck and Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson. The club will open their new season on August 24 away against Fulham.