Chelsea have officially confirmed the signing of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace, completing a £52 million deal for the highly rated French centre-back, Softfootball reports.
The 26-year-old put pen to paper on a long-term contract on Wednesday, becoming one of Chelsea’s marquee defensive additions ahead of the new season.
Softfootball had previously reported that Lacroix was set to undergo his medical before finalising the transfer. With all paperwork completed, Chelsea have now formally unveiled the France international as their newest recruit.
Chelsea view the signing as a major statement of intent as they continue strengthening their squad for the 2026-27 campaign. The Blues believe Lacroix’s physical presence, composure and leadership qualities will add greater stability and depth to their defensive unit.
For Crystal Palace, the transfer represents another successful piece of business, generating a substantial profit just one year after signing the defender from Wolfsburg.
With the deal now officially complete, Lacroix is expected to join his new teammates immediately as Chelsea continue preparations for the upcoming Premier League season under manager Xabi Alonso.
