Chelsea signs Maxence Lacroix until 2032

Chelsea has secured the signing of French defender Maxence Lacroix, bringing him to Stamford Bridge from Crystal Palace on a contract that runs until 2032. The 26-year-old will officially join the club ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Lacroix shared his excitement about joining Chelsea, stating, "I am truly very happy to be a part of this great club. Everyone knows the greatness of Chelsea and its winning tradition. It is an honor for me to be here." He added that his conversations with the manager revealed shared goals for the club. "We want to win. I believe we can achieve this with the quality of players here and the facilities the club offers. We want to win trophies and I look forward to contributing to that."

During his two seasons with Crystal Palace, Lacroix made 98 appearances and won the UEFA Europa Conference League, FA Cup, and Community Shield. His career began in the Sochaux youth academy before he moved to Wolfsburg in 2020, where he played 130 matches. He then transferred to Crystal Palace.

Lacroix's performances in the Premier League and European competitions earned him a call-up to the France national team, where he made his debut in March. The defender was also part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, playing in three matches during the tournament.

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I am truly very happy to be a part of this great club. Everyone knows the greatness of Chelsea and its winning tradition. It is an honor for me to be here. When I spoke with the manager, I saw that we share the same goals for the club. We want to win. I believe we can achieve this with the quality of players here and the facilities the club offers. We want to win trophies and I look forward to contributing to that.