Former Chelsea assistant manager Jody Morris has raised significant doubts about whether Maxence Lacroix is the right fit for the club following his confirmed transfer.
Chelsea officially announced the signing of the centre-back from Crystal Palace on Thursday, agreeing a permanent deal worth £52million for the defender.
The transfer makes Lacroix the third major arrival at Stamford Bridge this summer, joining Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra as new faces under Xabi Alonso.
Chelsea’s summer spending has now surpassed £200million in total, reflecting the scale of ambition under their new manager heading into the 2026/27 campaign.
Alonso is currently preparing for his first season in charge of the club, taking the squad on a pre-season tour in Australia ahead of the new Premier League season.
Morris, speaking to Boyle Sports, acknowledged Lacroix’s quality in certain systems but expressed clear reservations about how he might adapt to Chelsea’s setup.
“I thought Lacroix did great for Crystal Palace last year in a back three. Playing for Palace and Chelsea are two different things,” Morris said.
Morris pointed to Lacroix’s performances for France as a particular source of concern, noting the defender had struggled in recent international fixtures.
“He had a very poor game against Spain and I didn’t think he was great against England either, where they conceded six goals,” Morris added, highlighting the high-profile struggles.
The former assistant was candid about the tactical question mark hanging over the signing, stating that a back four could expose the defender’s limitations at the highest level.
“Playing in a four is totally different. If we are going to play a three, he could suit the team, but I’m intrigued to see how [Xabi] Alonso sets us up,” Morris continued.
Morris did acknowledge the positive aspects of Lacroix’s track record in English football, crediting his consistent performances for Palace over the past two seasons.
“Is he someone with Premier League experience? Has he produced and performed in the Premier League at a high level? Absolutely,” Morris conceded during the interview.
However, Morris maintained his reservations, warning that two strong seasons at Palace does not automatically guarantee success at a club with Chelsea’s demands and expectations.
“If we are going to play a four, I hope he doesn’t perform like that all the time if we are going for him. He has had two great seasons at Palace, but as I said, Palace and Chelsea are two different things,” he concluded.
Alonso himself spoke about the club’s broader transfer approach before the Lacroix deal was formally announced, outlining his vision for building a competitive squad.
“We want to build a competitive team. We are in that process. We have great quality, great talent, and we need to know what it takes to compete in the Premier League,” the Chelsea manager said.
Alonso stressed the importance of finding the right blend of ability and attitude throughout the squad, emphasising hunger and mentality as crucial factors in his recruitment thinking.
“Those things need to match in terms of maturity stage, where you are in your career, the moment that this point is coming for each player, the hunger, the desire, the commitment. But I think that we are starting in a new season with good energy. That’s important,” he added.
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