Maxence Lacroix is undergoing a medical with Chelsea in London on Friday. The clubs have agreed a deal worth approximately £52m (around €60m) for the Crystal Palace centre-back, according to Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic. The 26-year-old France international would sign a six-year contract running through June 2032, making him one of Xabi Alonso’s most significant defensive acquisitions since taking charge.
The fee represents a remarkable return on Palace’s original investment. Palace signed Lacroix from Wolfsburg in August 2024 for an initial £15.5m, a deal that was met with skepticism at the time. Chairman Steve Parish handled the Chelsea negotiations personally. BBC Sport reported Palace initially sought around £60m, and talkSPORT’s Alex Crook pegged the figure at slightly above £55m, but the transfer appears to have settled close to the £51m-£52m range reported by Sky Sports and Romano.
The deal itself
Fabrizio Romano confirmed on Friday that Axel Disasi is not included in the transfer in any form, ending speculation that a player-plus-cash structure was on the table. The deal is straight cash, and the medical is taking place in London with completion expected to follow shortly.
The Athletic first identified Lacroix as a Chelsea target on June 23, 2026, starting a month of negotiations conducted largely at ownership level between Parish and Chelsea’s hierarchy. Chelsea also hold interest in Como defender Jacobo Ramon, suggesting Alonso wants genuine depth at centre-back rather than a single signing.
Why Palace are losing another top defender
Palace sold Marc Guehi to Manchester City in the January 2026 transfer window. Lacroix’s departure now removes both starters from what had been arguably the best central defensive partnership in the Premier League last season. Palace are already targeting Augsburg’s Chrislain Matsima as a direct replacement, with Trabzonspor’s Chibuike Nwaiwu identified as an alternative.
The financial logic is straightforward. Lacroix cost £15.5m and leaves for roughly £52m, generating a profit of more than £36m before add-ons. His standing also rose sharply after a strong 2025-26 campaign and a World Cup appearance, and holding a player of that profile against his wishes was unlikely to be viable. Parish appears to have squeezed the best available return from the situation.
What Lacroix brings to Chelsea
Lacroix stands 6ft 4in (190cm) and ranks among the five fastest centre-backs in the Premier League, with a recorded top speed of 35.81km/h (22.3mph). Those two attributes together are unusual in the position. During 2025-26 he made 55 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals and contributing three assists, and he was the only outfield player in the Premier League that season to record 60 or more tackles, 200 or more duels won, and 250 or more clearances simultaneously.
His one-on-one success rate may be his most striking number. Across the past two Premier League seasons, among players who faced 50 or more individual duels, Lacroix posted the highest success rate at 50.5 percent. He can operate in a back four or a back three, which gives Alonso tactical flexibility. Chelsea’s current centre-back group includes Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, and Mamadou Sarr, and adding Lacroix will force decisions on at least some of those players.
A season that made the fee inevitable
Palace manager Oliver Glasner addressed the skepticism around Lacroix’s original signing directly. ‘There is Maxence Lacroix, who came from Wolfsburg, and many asked, why did you sign this player? I think he stepped up,’ Glasner said. What followed made that assessment look conservative.
Lacroix won the UEFA Conference League with Palace, who beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the final, and collected a Community Shield winner’s medal against Liverpool. He then earned a place in France’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, appearing three times including the third-place play-off against England. France finished fourth. Twelve months of success at club and international level built a market value Palace could not ignore once Chelsea came calling.
FAQ
How much are Chelsea paying for Maxence Lacroix?
The fee is approximately £52m (around €60m) according to Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic. BBC Sport reported Palace sought closer to £60m, while Sky Sports reported roughly £51m.
How long is Lacroix’s contract at Chelsea?
Lacroix is set to sign a six-year contract with Chelsea, running through June 2032.
Is Axel Disasi part of the Lacroix deal?
No. Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Disasi is not included in the transfer in any form. The move is a straightforward cash deal.