Maxence Lacroix, the 26-year-old Crystal Palace centre-back, started for France in their World Cup group-stage match against Norway on June 26, 2026. Lacroix earned his first senior call-up to the French national team back in March 2026. William Saliba’s back injury opened the door.

From Wolfsburg to the World Cup

Lacroix moved from Wolfsburg to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024 for €18 million. Born on April 6, 2000, Lacroix has spent the past two seasons establishing himself as one of the more reliable defenders in the Premier League. The World Cup start against Norway, a match that also featured the curious decision to bench Erling Haaland for Norway, was validation on the biggest stage.

Transfer speculation has already linked Lacroix with a potential €55 million move to Chelsea after the tournament wraps up. That’s roughly three times what Crystal Palace paid for him two years ago.

Chelsea’s crypto connection and the BingX partnership

Chelsea has been deepening its relationship with the cryptocurrency industry, most notably through its partnership with BingX, a cryptocurrency exchange. That relationship started as a sleeve sponsorship in January 2024. By April 2026, the two sides had renewed and expanded the deal, extending it through the 2026/27 season. The partnership has evolved to focus on fan engagement initiatives and what the parties describe as digital finance synergy.

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has tightened rules around crypto advertising, and any exchange partnering with a Premier League club needs to navigate those constraints carefully.