'Winner's mentality': Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso thrilled by new signing Maxence Lacroix

[p]The French international was unveiled on Thursday, moving to Stamford Bridge from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/crystal-palace/AovF1Mia/"]Crystal Palace[/a] in a deal worth a reported £52 million.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lacroix-maxence/j5bGWFU7/"]Lacroix[/a] agreed a six-year contract and will link up with the new club for their pre-season preparations.[/p][p][b]"I know Maxence from my time in the Bundesliga,"[/b] said former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alonso-xabi/hAcTWKKN/"]Alonso[/a], who rose to prominence as one of Europe's brightest coaches at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayer-leverkusen/4jcj2zMd/"]Bayer Leverkusen[/a].[/p][p][b]"But I think that his progression and his adaptation in the Premier League has been fantastic. Not just on the pitch but in terms of personality, leadership.[/b][/p][p][b]"He has these attributes and is a very reliable player that will give us power in the defensive line and will have a big direct impact in the team, I'm sure.[/b][/p][p][b]"So it's a great signing for now and for the future."[/b][/p][embed guid="f8b2d222-90d4-4bca-bcb1-29c3c4349088" url="https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status/2082834599273550305" social-type="twitter" /][p]Lacroix made 98 appearances for Palace after arriving from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/wolfsburg/nwkTahLL/"]Wolfsburg[/a] in 2024.[/p][p]He won the FA Cup, the UEFA Conference League and the Community Shield during his time at Selhurst Park.[/p][p][b]"He has strong personality, he's mature," [/b]added Alonso, in Sydney on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a]'s pre-tour as he works to revitalise a side that finished a disappointing 10th in the Premier League last season.[/p][p][b]"He wants to win. He has a winner's mentality, and he loves to defend, and that's something I like as well."[/b][/p][embed guid="886d4ac3-2f28-4b2b-9d0d-03495f75e4f6" url="https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status/2082958165746884741" social-type="twitter" /][p]The 26-year-old, who has won seven caps for France and played for his country at the recent World Cup, said he was proud to be a part of "this beautiful club".[/p][p][b]"When I spoke with the manager, I saw that we have the same direction and desire for this club,"[/b] he said.[b] "We want to win."[/b][/p][p]Lacroix is the club's latest close-season signing after a British record £117 million swoop for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Aston Villa[/a] forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rogers-morgan/lp4jm80n/"]Morgan Rogers[/a] and a £47 million move for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atalanta/8C9JjMXu/"]Atalanta[/a] right-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palestra-marco/Y3DYaDdP/"]Marco Palestra[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/quenda-geovany/StyGYS8e/"]Geovany Quenda[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/emegha-emanuel/by8Xcffd/"]Emmanuel Emegha[/a] have joined Chelsea in transfers that were initially agreed in 2025.[/p][p]The Blues have also been linked with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a] striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/welbeck-danny/86PvpO11/"]Danny Welbeck[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brentford/xYe7DwID/"]Brentford[/a] midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/henderson-jordan/UFMlUD6r/"]Jordan Henderson[/a].[/p]