Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix, with the two London clubs reaching an agreement on a deal understood to be worth around £60m.

The clubs negotiated the transfer at ownership level, and personal terms are not believed to be a sticking point. Lacroix is expected to undergo a medical within the next 24 hours before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract running until 2032.

A proven Premier League performer

The 26-year-old France international became a cornerstone of Crystal Palace's defence under manager Oliver Glasner, making 55 appearances across all competitions last season. He was central to Palace's historic Uefa Conference League triumph — the club's first major European trophy — and also featured in their Community Shield victory over Liverpool.

Lacroix further cemented his reputation at the FIFA World Cup 2026, earning a place in France's squad and making three appearances during the tournament. He started in the third-place play-off against England, as France finished fourth.

Palace originally signed Lacroix from Bundesliga club Wolfsburg in August 2024 for an initial fee of £15.5m, with up to £2.6m in potential add-ons. In less than two years, he has transformed into one of the Premier League's most consistent centre-backs — a remarkable rise that Chelsea are now paying a significant premium to acquire.

Why Lacroix suits Chelsea

The numbers behind the France international's performances paint a compelling picture. During the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, Lacroix was the only player in the division to record at least 50 tackles (60), 200 duels won (204), and 250 clearances (252) in a single season.

Standing at 6ft 4in, Lacroix pairs imposing aerial dominance with elite recovery speed. Since joining from Wolfsburg, he has ranked among the five fastest centre-backs in the Premier League, clocking a top speed of 35.81km/h. Across the past two Premier League seasons, he also posted the highest success rate in one-on-one defensive duels among players to face at least 50 such situations, winning possession 50.5 percent of the time.

His tactical flexibility makes him an attractive option for head coach Xabi Alonso. Lacroix is comfortable operating in both a back four and a back three — a versatility that broadens Chelsea's strategic options considerably, given that Alonso has deployed both defensive systems throughout his coaching career.