Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix is set to join Chelsea on a long-term contract after the clubs reached agreement on a deal for the player. Lacroix is expected to undergo a medical in the next 24 hours before signing a long-term contract, understood to run until 2032. The agreement between the two London clubs has been negotiated at ownership level.
Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali and Palace chairman Steve Parish, who were in New York for the World Cup final, met at the Aman Hotel near Central Park on Sunday. An agreement has now been reached between the two clubs, with personal terms not believed to be an issue.
Lacroix's performances earned him a place in France's squad for the 2026 World Cup. He made three appearances during the tournament, including starts against Norway and England in the third-place play-off, as Les Bleus finished fourth.
During the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, he was the only player to record at least 50 tackles (60), 200 duels won (204) and 250 clearances (252). Across the past two Premier League seasons, Lacroix recorded the best success rate in one-on-one defensive situations among players to face at least 50 such duels, winning possession 50.5% of the time. Comfortable in both a back four and a back three, he spent two seasons playing in Oliver Glasner's three-man defence at Crystal Palace but has also shown he can operate effectively in a more conventional back four.