Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace to Chelsea for €55 million

 Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix (26) is set to complete a transfer to Chelsea for €55 million, according to L'Equipe. The former FC Sochaux junior is scheduled to play in France's final World Cup group match against Norway today, replacing Arsenal's William Saliba. After the World Cup, Lacroix will begin a new phase of his career, still in London, but no longer at Crystal Palace. L'Equipe reports that Lacroix is ​​now very close to signing a contract with Chelsea, whose expenses for the French defender may increase to EUR 55 million. Earlier, Chelsea started talks regarding the transfer of the player they had designated as their main target for the position of central defender. Lacroix joined Crystal Palace from Wolfsburg in 2024 for a fee of €18 million. He was associated with the Eagles, with whom he won the FA Cup (Emirates FA Cup) in 2024 and the UEFA Conference League in 2025 until 2029.