Maxence Lacroix has revealed why he chose to join Chelsea after his £52million move from Crystal Palace was confirmed on Thursday. The France defender called Chelsea "the best club in the world" and said talks with manager Xabi Alonso convinced him to make the switch.
Lacroix has signed a six-year contract running until the summer of 2032. He is currently on holiday after France's World Cup campaign, which ended with a semi-final loss to Spain and a third-place play-off defeat to England.
Third signing of Alonso era
Lacroix becomes Chelsea's third signing under Xabi Alonso, following club-record £117m arrival Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and £47m Italy right-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta. The club has also secured Emmanuel Emegha, Geovany Quenda and Dastan Satpayev, along with surprise deals for Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson.
"I am really happy to be part of this beautiful club," Lacroix told Chelsea's official website. "Everyone knows the legend of Chelsea, its tradition of winning, and to be a part of that is a proud moment."
Conversations with Alonso and teammates
Lacroix explained that discussions with the manager and current Chelsea players helped him decide. "I spoke with the manager on the phone. We spoke about tactics, we spoke about how he sees the game," he said. "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 [Gusto], they told me it was the best club I can go to."
He also spoke with Trevoh Chalobah and Benoît Badiashile. "I think it's the best move for me because it's the best club in the world," Lacroix added. "The ambition is to lift trophies, and I can't wait to contribute."
