Chelsea Agree Deal with Palace for Lacroix Chelsea's recent agreement to sign Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for a reported fee of £51m marks a significant departure from the club's traditional transfer policy.
The French defender is 26 years old, and his acquisition is one of the most expensive signings by Chelsea in this age bracket since the ill fated signings of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly in 2022.
The price tag for Lacroix raises questions about whether Chelsea's new willingness to spend big on established players will ultimately yield better results on the pitch.