Maxence Lacroix: Biography, Career, Stats, Achievements and Latest News

Maxence Lacroix is a French centre-back who plays for Chelsea. The 26-year-old also plays for the French national team, representing France in international tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup. After two seasons at Crystal Palace, Maxence joined Chelsea for a reported fee of £52 million.

Commonly known as Max, Maxence Lacroix won the PFA Community Champion Award alongside Chloe Arthur in the 2025/26 season. This article covers Max’s biography from his birth to his career. Stay tuned on the SportPesa live blog for all football updates as they unfold.

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Profile overview

Maxence Lacroix’s early life and education

Maxence Lacroix’s biography starts in April 2000 at Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France, where he was born. Max’s mother, Corinne Lamouroux, is a doctor from Madagascar, while his father is a nurse from Guadeloupe. His parents moved to the rural French village of Ajat when he was an infant, though he was brought up in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Lacroix has two siblings: his sister, Eve Lacroix, and his only brother, William Lacroix. Max never pursued traditional higher education; instead, he focused on developing his elite football skills at French club FC Sochaux-Montbéliard before making his senior debut in 2018.

Football career journey

Club career

Sochaux

In August 2017, Maxence signed his first contract with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, which was the beginning of his professional career. After progressing through the club’s youth academy, he made his senior debut on 22 December 2018 in a 1–0 Ligue 2 victory over FC Lorient. His performance at Sochaux attracted clubs across Europe, leading to his transfer to VfL Wolfsburg.

VfL Wolfsburg

After playing for Sochaux for three years, Max signed a four-year contract with VfL Wolfsburg in August 2020. He quickly established himself as a regular starter thanks to his speed, strength, and ability to play comfortably in possession. In February 2021, he reached an important milestone by scoring his first goal in a 2-0 victory over Hertha BSC. While playing in Germany, Lacroix gained great experience before he left to join Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace

In August 2024, Lacroix reunited with his former Wolfsburg manager Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace after signing a five-year contract. His transfer to Crystal Palace was worth £18 million. He adapted quickly, scoring his first goal in a 2-2 draw against Manchester City before helping Crystal Palace to their historic 1-0 win over the same Manchester City in 2025. In the 2025/26 season, he remained a key player for Crystal Palace in the Premier League, although he was sent off in a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United. In the same season, he helped Crystal Palace lift their first-ever UEFA Conference League trophy after defeating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the final.

International career

Lacroix represented the France Under-17 team at the 2017 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup at the youth level. His impressive domestic football abilities earned him his first call-up to the senior team on 22 March 2026 for friendlies against Brazil and Colombia. Two months later, on 14 May 2026, he was selected to the France 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His selection reflected his swift rise as one of France’s leading defensive talents and marked a major step in his international career.

Playing Style

Maxence Lacroix’s playing style is characterized by exceptional speed and aggressiveness. Max is known for his front-foot defending, elite recovery pace, and proactive intervention style. His playing success is tied to being versatile, ambitious, and calm, even under pressure.

Career stats

In the 2024/25 Premier League season, Maxence Lacroix recorded one goal and one assist. View comprehensive Maxence Lacroix stats in the tables below.

Club career stats

The table below shows Maxence’s stats in the various clubs he has played for.

International career stats

The table below gives Lacroix’s international playing stats.

Transfer history

Maxence has played for several teams. This has led him to make several successful transfers. The table below shows Maxence Lacroix’s transfer history.

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Injury history

Throughout his career, Maxence has been sidelined several times due to knee issues, muscle strains, and shoulder problems. The table below shows Lacroix’s injury history.

Achievements and awards

Since Maxence Lacroix started playing, he has won major team and personal titles. His achievements include the UEFA Conference League, FA Cup and FA Community Shield. The table below shows Maxence Lacroix’s achievements and awards.

Latest news

Maxence completed a reported £52 million transfer from Crystal Palace to Chelsea in July 2026. Stay tuned on SportPesa and get all the latest Maxence Lacroix news as they unfold.

FAQs about Maxence Lacroix

How much did Palace pay for Maxence Lacroix?

Crystal Palace paid an initial £15.5 million, plus £2.6 million in potential add-ons (totalling up to £18 million), to sign Maxence Lacroix from Wolfsburg in August 2024.

What are Maxence Lacroix’s weaknesses?

The two main weaknesses in Lacroix’s defensive game are his defending in wide areas, usually when isolated one-on-one, and his understanding of when to be aggressive.

Is Maxence Lacroix joining Chelsea?

Maxence Lacroix joined Chelsea in July 2026 after completing a reported £52 million move from Crystal Palace.

Is Maxence Lacroix right-footed or left-footed?

Maxence Lacroix is right-footed.

Conclusion

Maxence Lacroix has already made great achievements in his football career. His success at Crystal Palace and the FIFA World Cup earned Lacroix a move to Chelsea, where he begins a new chapter in his career.

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