Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix is close to joining Chelsea on a long-term deal after the clubs agreed terms on a transfer.
On Tuesday, BBC Sport said discussions between the sides had been positive, with Palace seeking around £60m for the France international. A deal has now been struck and personal terms are not expected to pose a problem.
Lacroix is scheduled for a medical within the next 24 hours and is set to sign a contract understood to run until 2032. The agreement between the London clubs was handled at ownership level.
The 26-year-old was a mainstay for Oliver Glasner last season, making 55 appearances in all competitions as Palace won the UEFA Conference League—their first major European trophy. He also featured in the Community Shield win over Liverpool and contributed to another strong Premier League campaign.
His form earned him a place in France’s 2026 World Cup squad, where he played three matches, starting against Norway and in the third-place play-off against England, with Les Bleus finishing fourth.
Palace brought Lacroix in from Wolfsburg in August 2024 for an initial £15.5m plus up to £2.6m in add-ons, and he has since emerged as one of the Premier League’s most consistent central defenders.