Chelsea have completed the permanent transfer of French central defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in a deal worth £52m.
The 26-year-old defender has signed a long term contract at Stamford Bridge, providing a major boost to incoming head coach Xabi Alonso as he continues to reshape his squad.
Lacroix enjoyed an outstanding individual campaign at Selhurst Park last term, establishing a reputation as one of the most physically robust and tactically intelligent defenders in the Premier League.
Chelsea moved decisively to conclude the deal, seeking to reinforce their central defensive options following several outgoing player moves earlier in the window.
Lacroix becomes the latest major arrival of a busy summer at Stamford Bridge, joining dynamic wide player Geovany Quenda, Italian full-back Marco Palestra, and record signing Morgan Rogers.
The defender will complete physical screening before joining up with his new teammates for pre-season training.
