Chelsea have completed the signing of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in a £52m deal. The 6ft 4in centre-back was the preferred target over alternatives including John Stones and Jacobo Ramon, with negotiations over personal terms and the fee concluding after Lacroix gave the move the green light following France's World Cup campaign, which ended in fourth place after defeat by England in the bronze-medal match.

The arrival signals a shift in strategy for a club that finished 10th in the Premier League without a trophy. Co-owner Behdad Eghbali said Chelsea would "tweak" their model and add experience to a young core featuring Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill. Lacroix becomes the oldest player signed under the current ownership.

The club also pursued 34-year-old Granit Xhaka from Sunderland, a move that would have been highly unusual for their recruitment approach, though they failed to reunite him with former Bayer Leverkusen manager Alonso. Alongside the £117m arrival of Rogers, who turned 24, Lacroix's signing fulfils Chelsea's pledge to make at least two ready-made additions.