Maxence Lacroix set to join Chelsea from Crystal Palace

sportsJul 24, 202632156

Chelsea have reached agreement with Crystal Palace to sign France centre-back Maxence Lacroix and the 26-year-old is expected to undergo a medical within 24 hours before signing a long-term contract understood to run until 2032. The deal was negotiated at ownership level; Palace had been seeking about £60m but both clubs agreed terms. Lacroix made 55 appearances under Oliver Glasner last season as Palace won the UEFA Conference League and the Community Shield and helped secure a strong Premier League campaign. He featured in France's squad at the 2026 World Cup, making three appearances including starts against Norway and England in the third-place play-off. Palace signed Lacroix from Wolfsburg in August 2024 for an initial £15.5m plus potential add-ons. Across the 2025-26 Premier League campaign Lacroix recorded 60 tackles, 204 duels won and 252 clearances, and he ranked among the five fastest centre-backs, with a top speed of 35.81 km/h. Comfortable in both a back four and a back three, Lacroix’s versatility fits head coach Xabi Alonso’s tactical options at Chelsea.

David Ornstein

@david-ornstein.bsky.social

🚨 Maxence Lacroix set for medical today before joining Chelsea from Crystal Palace. ~£52m deal being finalised⁠. 26yo centre-back to sign #CFC contract until June 2032⁠. Chibuike Nwaiwu among alternative #CPFC options to Chrislain Matsima 🚨 @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/739...

5645d ago

Slim Jim2

Sounds like they’re spending the Fernandez transfer money without selling him first. I really don’t like that club.

scotinvt.bsky.social1

they planning on fielding 11 defenders a game??

Quoting this

Nathan Phillips20

Chelsea are right up there with Spurs for clubs that destroy careers. Every time I see an emerging player sign for either, I instantly know their best days are over.

Daley AF(C)5

Someone needs to explain the Chelsea thing to me. No Europe this season too. How?

Alex Barton2

If that's the fee we've agreed at I'll be very disappointed. Yes it's significant profit but that's an absolute steal compared to some of the deals already completed this summer. 26 years old, 3 years left on his contract. Gutting. And even more so considering the buying club.

lfcviking.bsky.social2

Lacroix is yet another player that would make all kind of sense for #LFC this summer given our needs RN. But tumbleweed FC seemingley sees it different. Now he's off to Cheatski, and we're still left with the massive uncertainty of what's going on with recruitment & behind the scenes stuff 🤷

AOS842

There’s no point anymore is there? This lot and city just take the piss and don’t get punished. Just call it a day.

Steve F2

Seems a bit low to me.

Matt2

Not there, Maxence. Your career will shake, and it'll be far from beautiful.

Ben Jacobs

@jacobsben.bsky.social

BREAKING: Chelsea closing in on a deal to sign Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has been involved in negotiations and the overall package is expected to higher than Jan Paul Van Hecke's £52m move from Brighton to Spurs.🇫🇷

1845d ago

Quoting this

Bassman8

That's a lot of money and I'm not sure he's better than Trev. Was really poor at the world cup.

blake-knee.bsky.social3

I wonder how much “they over paid” talk there’ll be or is that reserved only for Tottenham?

Fabrizio Romano (MIRROR)

@fabrizioromano.yopro20.com

🚨🔵 Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea, here we go! Agreement in place with official bid accepted by Crystal Palace. Broad terms in place last night and medical ongoing in London for the CB. £52m transfer fee. Axel Disasi not included in the deal. Lacroix signs until June 2032.

1045d ago

Nizaar Kinsella

@nizaarkinsella.bsky.social

Maxence Lacroix now set to join Chelsea. Blues can now boast having got two of their main targets and hijacked Inter Milan’s move for Palestra. Of course, missing out on Xhaka though. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

1045d ago

FPL Focal

@fpl.page

Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign Lacroix from Crystal Palace for ~£52m, following his medical today. 🇫🇷

1145d ago

ashW

@ash-cpfc.bsky.social

Re. Lacroix to Chelsea, he leaves with nothing but thanks and best wishes. He gave everything to elevate Palace to success and it’s hard to begrudge him the move. The reality is the big clubs are hoovering up emerging talent from the other 14 and beyond at an ever-increasing rate. Next one please.

1145d ago

OptaJoe

@optajoe.com

252 - During the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, Maxence Lacroix was the only player to record 50+ tackles (60), 200+ duels won (204) and 250+ clearances (252). Reinforcement.

745d ago

Cartoon Steve Bould.

@cartoonstevebould.bsky.social

Since Clearlake took over, Chelsea have signed... Wesley Fofana (€80.4m) Kalidou Koulibaly (€41.9m) Benoit Badiashile (€38m) Axel Disasi (€45m) Aaron Anselmino (€16.5m) Tosin Adarabioyo (free) Mamadou Sarr (€14m) And soon Maxence Lacroix (??) And their best CB has been Trevoh Chalobah.

745d ago

Edd Powell2

And they sent chalobah on loan and only recalled him due to injuries 🤣

Blair Monson1

You’d think they’d have hit on a star at least once but my god that’s bad

JG1

Agree, I total shambles of recruitment. But im always drawn to the goalkeeper situation. Having spent £2b, they still have Robert Sanchez at first choice. This says a lot about Chelseas recruitment, but also gives us the chance to slander Emi Martinez, who, clearly, no-one other than himself, rates

LeedsatSea

@leedsatsea.bsky.social

Where are. Chelsea getting the money and the headroom to spend it? Pure corruption. #lufc www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

444d ago

Bruce3

The financial crime of moving money and disguising illegal funds through manipulated or inflated prices is known as trade-based money laundering

Jonny Singer

@jonnysinger.bsky.social

I get that all elite sportspeople only get there by believing that they are truly exceptional, and maybe Lacroix will be... But imagine being a young French-born defender, looking at Chelsea, with Badiashille, Gusto, Fofana, Sarr and Disasi, and thinking... but it will work out for me!

444d ago

Liberal Librarian, Son of Cuban Immigrants

@liberallibrarian.bsky.social

The oh-so-earnest responses to a post which is taking the piss simply reaffirms that a bunch of you have no sense of humor or irony. Meanwhile, my Chelsea lads are getting LaCroix. A good, young center-back.

444d ago

Dom Smith

@mrdomsmith.bsky.social

Understand Maxence Lacroix deal is expected to be completed today. Medical is today. Fee will be between £50m and £52m #cfc #cpfc

45d ago

Koalatovmocktail

@koalatovmocktail.bsky.social

Blimey! £117M for Rogers; £52M for Lacroix… Chelsea aren’t doing half bad for a team that finished 10th! And people try to tell me that financial fair play rules disadvantage the aspirational mid-table clubs! #AVFC

445d ago

Talk Football

@talk-football.com

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🦁⚽️🏆Chelsea Sign Lacroix Chelsea have agreed a deal with Crystal Palace for defender Maxence Lacroix in a transfer worth around £51m. Palace may sign a Chelsea defender as part of discussions, with Disasi, Chalobah and Badiashile among those attracting interest.