Chelsea FC officially announced its contract with French defender Maxence Lacroix, coming from Crystal Palace, on a long-term contract extending until the summer of 2032, as part of its plans to strengthen the back line before the start of the 2026-2027 season.
Lacroix expressed his great happiness in wearing the “Blues” shirt, stressing that joining Chelsea represents an important step in his career, and said: “I am very proud to be here. Chelsea is a great club with The French defender added that his conversation with the coach strengthened his conviction to move to the club, explaining: “I felt from the beginning that we share the same ambitions. Everyone here works to compete for championships, and with the quality of players in the team, I believe we have all the ingredients to achieve that, and I look forward to giving my best.”
Lacroix joins Chelsea after a successful period with Crystal Palace, where he played. He played 98 matches and performed at distinguished levels, and contributed to achieving outstanding achievements for the club, most notably winning the European Conference League, the FA Cup, and the Community Shield, in addition to his brilliance as one of the most prominent defenders in the English Premier League thanks to his strength in the air and his great speed.
The player began his professional career with Sochaux in France, before moving to Wolfsburg in Germany in 2020, where he participated in 130 matches over four seasons, after which he moved to Crystal Palace. He continues his development until he was given the opportunity to represent the French national team for the first time last March. He also participated in three matches during the 2026 World Cup, and contributed to the “Roosters” reaching fourth place in the tournament.
Chelsea hopes that Lacroix will be a strong addition to the defensive system in the coming years, as the club seeks to build a team capable of competing strongly for all local and continental titles.