Chelsea and Crystal Palace have reached an agreement for Maxence Lacroix to move across London, but the transfer is not yet formally complete. The France centre-back is still expected to have a medical before signing a long-term Chelsea contract reportedly running to 2032.
The BBC report says Palace had been looking for a fee in the region of £60m, although no final transfer figure is confirmed. Personal terms are not expected to block the move, and the talks between the clubs are described as having been handled at ownership level.
Lacroix leaves Palace, if the deal is finalised, after two strong seasons in which he became a central part of Oliver Glasner's defence. He made 55 appearances last season, contributed to Palace's UEFA Conference League success, featured in the Community Shield win over Liverpool, and later played three times for France at the 2026 World Cup.
From Chelsea's perspective, the appeal is clear: Lacroix offers size, pace and flexibility across different defensive systems. His recent Premier League output included 60 tackles, 204 duels won and 252 clearances in 2025-26, while his experience in both a back three and back four could give Xabi Alonso more tactical options.
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