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Arsenal join race to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix

By on June 17, 2026

Arsenal have expressed interest in Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix this summer, according to The Daily Mail.

Lacroix rose to prominence in Germany after joining Wolfsburg from French side Sochaux in the summer of 2020. The French defender went on to play 130 matches for Die Wölfe, attracting interest from numerous clubs through a series of dominant performances.

Following strong interest from several clubs, he completed a switch to Palace in 2024 and has since developed into one of the Premier League’s best central defenders.

In the recently concluded season, Lacroix was one of the standout performers in Oliver Glasner’s squad, appearing in 34 of the Eagles’ Premier League games, winning 204 duels (5.95 per game), and playing a crucial role as the South London club won the UEFA Conference League.

His consistent progression has now been recognised on the international stage, earning him a place in Didier Deschamps’ 26-man France squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Described as ‘incredible’ by former Palace manager Oliver Glasner, Lacroix’s performances have once again piqued the interest of several clubs, including Arsenal, according to The Daily Mail, which claims that the Gunners hold an admiration for the 6ft 2in centre-back.

However, the Gunners are not the only club holding an interest in the French centre-back, as Premier League rivals Chelsea have earmarked him as a suitable option for Xabi Alonso’s system, while Real Madrid are also among the clubs interested in the Frenchman, according to the report.

Arsenal are stacked at the back

With three years left in his contract, the report adds that Palace are not considering his sale, and his potential departure largely depends on the scale of Arsenal’s offer.

Arsenal already have one of the strongest defensive units in Europe, with the versatile Christhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié joining last summer to further bolster an already existing solid defensive group of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber.

As with every top club, quality depth is important and pivotal to maintaining the team’s competitiveness across different competitions.

That said, Lacroix could find regular opportunities difficult to come by at the Emirates Stadium. With Arsenal already well stocked in central defence, he would face stiff competition for a starting berth, a situation that could potentially give other interested clubs, such as Chelsea, an edge in the race for his signature.

Additionally, Palace are likely to pay a fee well above his £43m Transfermarkt valuation, which would be too steep for a player who won’t be a guaranteed starter.