Chelsea have completed the signing of France defender Maxence Lacroix from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, with reports differing on the exact transfer fee. Yahoo Sports puts the deal at £52 million, while Sky Sports reports a fee of £51 million. Lacroix has signed a six-year contract with the Blues, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2030. The 24-year-old centre-back joins Chelsea as part of the club's defensive rebuild under new manager Enzo Maresca. Lacroix made 89 appearances for Crystal Palace over three seasons, establishing himself as a key figure in their backline. He was also part of the France squad that finished runners-up in the 2022 World Cup. The transfer marks the second signing of the summer for Chelsea, following the arrival of winger Noni Madueke earlier in the window. Lacroix will be expected to compete for a starting spot alongside existing defenders such as Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill, and Axel Disasi. Chelsea have been active in the transfer market, aiming to strengthen their squad after a disappointing 12th-place finish in the Premier League last season. The deal includes no add-ons or performance-related clauses, according to both reports. Lacroix is set to wear the number 26 shirt for Chelsea.