{"id":50578,"date":"2026-07-24T04:41:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T08:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/24\/medical-today-chelsea-complete-statement-signing-of-french-star-for-just-52m\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T04:41:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T08:41:59","slug":"medical-today-chelsea-complete-statement-signing-of-french-star-for-just-52m","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/24\/medical-today-chelsea-complete-statement-signing-of-french-star-for-just-52m\/","title":{"rendered":"Medical today: Chelsea complete statement signing of French star for just \u00a352m"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/24\/medical-today-chelsea-complete-statement-signing-of-french-star-for-just-52m\/#Medical_reservations_have_been_made_due_to_a_6-year_contract\" >Medical reservations have been made due to a 6-year contract.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/24\/medical-today-chelsea-complete-statement-signing-of-french-star-for-just-52m\/#Lacroix_brings_defensive_stability_to_Chelsea\" >Lacroix brings defensive stability to Chelsea<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Chelsea are one step closer to making another big summer signing, with Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix expected to complete his \u00a352m move to Stamford Bridge after completing a medical.<br \/><\/strong><br \/>The France international has been identified as a physically strong, Premier League-proven centre-back with whom Xabi Alonso wants to rebuild his defence.<\/p>\n<div id=\"message-list_1779082922.637049\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" aria-labelledby=\"primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-sender primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-message_text primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-alt_text primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-date_time primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-reaction_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-reply_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-link_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-attachment_count primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-has_draft_reply primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-pinned_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-edited_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-later_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-broadcast_state primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-broadcast_thread_root_message primary-DPALHTQM9-1779082922.637049-translated_state\" style=\"clear:left;\">\n<div>\n<div aria-roledescription=\"message\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><b>Download the official CaughtOffSide app to get all the latest news and updates straight to your phone. above <\/b><b><u><span draggable=\"true\">apple<\/span><\/u><\/b><b>    &#038; <\/b><b><u><span draggable=\"true\">Google play<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Lacroix, 26, offers a good balance of experience and long-term value, having already established himself in both England and Germany.<\/p>\n<p>His arrival could also spark further movement within the Chelsea defense, with the likes of Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Trevaux Chalobah facing uncertain futures.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea have yet to make an official announcement, but the move is not just being discussed, but completed.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Medical_reservations_have_been_made_due_to_a_6-year_contract\"><\/span>Medical reservations have been made due to a 6-year contract.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>According to The Athletic, Lacroix will undergo a medical with Chelsea before signing a contract until June 2032.<\/p>\n<p>The two London clubs have a deal worth around \u00a352 million.<\/p>\n<p>Palace had originally wanted close to \u00a360m, but the final figure is reported to be in line with what Tottenham paid Brighton for Jan Paul van Hecke last minute.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea&#8217;s decision to meet that assessment reflects how highly Alonso values \u200b\u200bLacroix&#8217;s speed, strength and ability to defend wide spaces.<\/p>\n<p>The Sun also reported that Premier League experience was seen as a key requirement in Chelsea&#8217;s search for a new defender.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lacroix_brings_defensive_stability_to_Chelsea\"><\/span>Lacroix brings defensive stability to Chelsea<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Lacroix seems to fit well with Chelsea&#8217;s intended style. His recovery speed will allow the team to maintain a higher defensive line, and his physicality and experience could provide greater safety in transition.<\/p>\n<p>A \u00a352m transfer fee is high, but Chelsea are looking to sign a defender who is ready to play immediately, rather than needing a few seasons to adapt.<\/p>\n<p>Palace also benefited greatly from the signing of the player from Wolfsburg in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>This is a wiser investment than another gamble on an inexperienced prospect.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea already have young defenders with potential. What they need now is someone who can organize the last line and produce reliable performance.<\/p>\n<p>The real test is team management. If Lacroix arrives, Chelsea will need to use a defender who no longer has a clear role.<\/p>\n<p>Otherwise, you may end up with another expensive signature and congestion instead of stability.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Chelsea and Man United battle to sign defender in bargain \u00a317m deal <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chelsea are one step closer to making another big summer signing, with Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix expected to complete his \u00a352m move to Stamford Bridge after completing a medical.The France international has been identified as a physically strong, Premier League-proven centre-back with whom Xabi Alonso wants to rebuild his defence. Download the official CaughtOffSide [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36365,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[40],"class_list":["post-50578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-football"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50578"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50578\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}