Chelsea have completed the signing of France defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in a deal worth £52 million.
The 26-year-old centre-back has signed a contract with the Blues until 2032, becoming the club’s third arrival of the summer transfer window.
“I am really happy to be part of this beautiful club. Everyone knows the legend of Chelsea, its tradition of winning, and to be a part of that is a proud moment,” he said.
“When I spoke with the manager, I saw that we have the same direction and desire for this club.
“We want to win. When you see the quality of the players here, everything we have around the club, it’s something that we can achieve. The ambition is to lift trophies, and I can’t wait to contribute.”
Lacroix becomes Chelsea’s third summer acquisition under new manager Xabi Alonso, following Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra, as the club looks to rebound from a 10th-place Premier League finish.
Lacroix earned a place in France’s World Cup squad and made three appearances, including a start against England in their third-place play-off defeat.
Palace signed Lacroix from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in August 2024, and he played 98 times in two seasons for the Eagles.
New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso is also keen to add experience to his squad ahead of the new season, with 35-year-old striker Danny Welbeck on the brink of joining the club on a two-year deal from Brighton.