Chelsea have completed the signing of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in a deal worth £51m. The 26‑year‑old central defender has signed a six‑year contract at Stamford Bridge, pushing the club’s summer spending beyond £250m.

This move makes him the first player aged 26 or over Chelsea have signed since the summer of 2022, alongside upcoming deals for 35‑year‑old Danny Welbeck and 36‑year‑old Jordan Henderson.

The transfer reflects a deliberate shift in policy under new manager Xabi Alonso, who is targeting more experienced players. Palace were seeking around £55m in negotiations, citing the fee Tottenham paid for Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton as a benchmark. Chelsea’s strategy also includes off‑loading defenders such as Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi, having already raised more than £130m from player sales and compensation from Manchester City for Enzo Maresca.

Lacroix praised Chelsea as “the best club in the world”, noting the alignment in tactics and ambition after speaking with the manager and club figures. The signing is set to bolster Chelsea’s defensive core for the upcoming Premier League campaign.