Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix is set to join Chelsea on a long-term contract after the clubs reached agreement on a deal worth around £60m. The 26-year-old centre-back is expected to undergo a medical within 24 hours before signing a contract understood to run until 2032, with personal terms not believed to be an issue. The agreement between the two London clubs has been negotiated at ownership level.

Lacroix was a regular under Oliver Glasner last season, making 55 appearances in all competitions as Palace won the Uefa Conference League, the club's first major European trophy. He also featured in Palace's Community Shield victory over Liverpool and helped the Eagles secure another strong Premier League campaign.

His performances earned him a place in France's squad for the 2026 World Cup, where he made three appearances, including starts against Norway and England in the third-place play-off, as Les Bleus finished fourth. Palace signed Lacroix from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in August 2024 for an initial fee of £15.5m, with a further £2.6m in potential add-ons, and he has established himself as one of the Premier League's most consistent central defenders.