Chelsea don officially announce say dem sign France international Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace. Di 26-year-old centre-back don put pen for contract wey go keep am for Stamford Bridge until 2032, and e go join im new Blues teammates for di 2026/27 season.
‘I dey very happy to join dis beautiful club. Everybody know di legend of Chelsea, di tradition of winning, and to be part of dat na proud moment for me,’ na so Lacroix yarn. ‘When I yarn with di manager, I see say we dey on di same page for dis club. We wan win. When you see di quality of di players wey dey here, everything we get around di club, na something we fit achieve. Di ambition na to lift trophies, and I no fit wait to contribute.’
Lacroix arrive Chelsea wit reputation as one of di most commanding centre-backs for Europe, plus e be one of di fastest and best aerial defenders for Premier League. E make 98 appearances for Crystal Palace for two seasons for Selhurst Park, and e make history wit di Eagles by winning UEFA Conference League, FA Cup, and Community Shield.
Di defender come from Sochaux academy, where e make 28 senior appearances for di French club first team before e join Wolfsburg for August 2020. E spend four years wit di German side and make 130 appearances before im move go south London.
Lacroix performance for Premier League and Europe wit Palace earn am international recognition for March, when e make im debut for France. Dem later include am for Les Bleus squad for di FIFA World Cup, and e play three matches for di tournament as im country finish fourth.
Welcome to Chelsea, Maxence!
