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See the full story · 4 sourcesLacroix hails Chelsea as “best club in the world” after £52m move from Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge
Maxence Lacroix has called Chelsea 'the best club in the world' after completing his transfer to Stamford Bridge.
Lacroix has crossed the capital to sign for Chelsea from Crystal Palace for a fee in the region of £52m. The centre-back becomes Chelsea's fourth major signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Geovany Quenda, Marco Palestra, and Morgan Rogers.
The 26-year-old arrives having excelled at Crystal Palace, where he won the FA Cup, Community Shield, and Europa Conference League.
Lacroix hopes he can continue picking up silverware after signing for what he believes is the best club on the planet.
"I think it’s the best move for me because it’s the best club in the world," Lacroix told chelseafc.com.
"I spoke with Malo [Gusto]. I spoke with Trev [Chalobah]. I spoke with Benoit [Badiashile]. It's easy for people to speak well about this club because it has a lot of big history and I'm really proud to be a part of it now.
"I spoke with the manager on the phone. We spoke about tactics, we spoke about how he sees the game. First of all, I was happy just to speak about football with him, and I saw that we have the same direction and desire for this club.
"When I spoke with the gaffer, when I spoke also with the people I know from the national team who play for Chelsea, like Malo, they told me it was the best club I can go to.
"So already I was saying: 'Okay, I don’t need to think too much'. After talking to people I said to myself: 'This is the best step forward for me'."
“‘We have a story to write here’: New Chelsea defender Lacroix says move is ‘the best step forward for me’”
Lacroix was part of the France side that reached the 2026 World Cup semi-finals this summer, before losing to England in the third/fourth play-off. He said he's delighted to now share a dressing room with Reece James and Morgan Rogers, after facing the pair in opposition during the summer.
"We want the best players in our team, of course. But I think when I saw the players like Reece, like Morgan, I'm just really happy to be also in a way in their story, you know? To write part of the Chelsea story with them.
"I'm really proud, really happy, to be part of this beautiful project and I just want to start playing.
"I’m really excited to see the guys, to see the manager, to start the season, because I feel like we have a story to write here, and I can be part of it, so it's beautiful."
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