Chelsea has made a significant signing with the arrival of Maxence Lacroix, a 26-year-old French defender who has penned a six-year contract with the club.
Lacroix's transfer from Crystal Palace was confirmed at a £52million fee, with the centre-back set to join a Chelsea squad that has undergone significant changes this summer.
Former Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has praised the signing, describing Lacroix as "a great player" and "a really smart signing" for the Blues.
Cahill, who played for Palace before joining Chelsea, believes Lacroix is at the right age to take his game to the next level, and that the defender's experience playing regularly in the Premier League will serve him well at Stamford Bridge.
Lacroix has already made a name for himself in the Premier League, making three appearances for France at the World Cup, and Cahill is confident that the defender will not be overawed by the size of the move to Chelsea.
"He's a great player, it's a really good signing, and a move that I'm sure he's really looking forward to getting stuck into and aiming to hit the ground running," Cahill said.
Lacroix is one of seven new arrivals at Chelsea this summer, and the defender is expected to join up with the squad in the coming days as the team prepares for the new Premier League season.
The season gets underway on August 24, with Chelsea facing local rivals Fulham away from home in their opening fixture.
Chelsea's new manager Xabi Alonso will be looking to make an immediate impact on the team, and Lacroix's signing could prove to be a key addition to the squad.
Jody Morris, a former Chelsea midfielder, has praised Lacroix's form under Oliver Glasner at Palace last season, but expressed some concerns about the defender's performance at the World Cup.
"I thought Lacroix did great for Palace last year in a back three, but playing for Palace and Chelsea are two different things," Morris said.
However, Morris stopped short of writing Lacroix off, saying that the defender could still suit the team and that he was intrigued to see how Alonso sets up the team.
For Chelsea, the signing of Lacroix is a significant statement of intent, and the defender will be hoping to make an immediate impact on the team as the new season gets underway.
