Chelsea have completed the signing of France international defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in a deal worth £52m, as the club continues to reshape its squad ahead of the new Premier League season under incoming head coach Xabi Alonso. Lacroix arrives at Chelsea just over a year after joining Crystal Palace from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in 2024, in a deal initially worth £15.5m. Negotiations between Chelsea and Palace were reportedly lengthy, with both the transfer fee and Lacroix’s personal terms taking time to resolve. Notably, at 26, Lacroix is the oldest player Chelsea have signed since Eghbali and the club’s sporting directors took charge of recruitment. Although that move didn’t materialise, it signalled a clear change in the type of profile Chelsea are now willing to pursue.