# Chelsea Nears $69M Deal for French Defender Maxence Lacroix

Chelsea is close to finalizing a $69 million transfer for France center-back Maxence Lacroix. The deal would bolster Chelsea's defensive options as they continue their squad rebuild. This signing signals the club's ambition to compete at the highest level in domestic and European competitions.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [Fox News Sports](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/chelsea-closing-69-million-deal-france-center-back-maxence-lacroix) — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 16:27:17 -0400