Chelsea are closing in on Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix. A deal worth around £47m is being finalized, with an announcement expected after the 2026 World Cup.
according to The Team via Get French Football NewsLacroix is now very likely to commit to Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea, with the fee set to rise to €55m (£47m).
The 26-year-old joined Palace from Wolfsburg in 2024 for just €18 million. Chelsea are now willing to pay around three times that fee. He has three years left on his contract with Palau.
But the France international is ready to take the next step. Sources close to the player say he has given a clear ‘yes’ to Chelsea, and talks with the Stamford Bridge team have progressed positively this week.
Lacroix is currently representing France at the 2026 World Cup. The Chelsea hierarchy want to complete his move before he returns, keeping the deal clean and fast.
Lacroix fits Alonso’s system well. He can operate in a four or three, and his ability to carry the ball from the back adds a key dimension that Chelsea currently lack.
In 35 Premier League appearances last season, Lacroix averaged seven starts and almost six duels won every 90 minutes. He also helped Palace keep clean sheets in two cup finals.
Those numbers helped earn him a spot on France’s World Cup squad. At just 26 years old and entering the prime of his career, he is seen as a long-term solution alongside Levi Colwill.
On the other side of the book, Marc Cucurella has left for Real Madrid. Axel Disasi and Trevoh Chalobah are also available, with Alonso looking to eliminate excess defensive depth.
Wesley Fofana’s fitness issues have added urgency to Chelsea’s pursuit. The club wants two new centre-backs this summer, depending on how many senior defenders come out.
Chelsea are also monitoring Jacobo Ramon de Como as an alternative. But Lacroix remains their clear first choice, and they are making efforts to close the deal quickly.
For Palace, it would be a significant loss. But a fee in excess of £47m will go a long way towards funding their own summer plans under new manager Pierre Sage, who takes charge of a team in transition.
