Has Alonso made right call picking Lacroix to fix Chelsea's fragile defence?

With more influence on signings than his predecessors, new Blues boss Alonso has wasted little time putting his stamp on the squad.

Lacroix, signed from Crystal Palace for a reported £52million, is one of the most important arrivals yet.

As any fan will tell you, defensive frailties cost Chelsea as they missed out on European qualification during a turbulent 2025-26 campaign.

But Lacroix, who has been handed a six-year deal, should add some much-needed steel to Alonso’s backline.

“I am really happy to be part of this beautiful club,” he said. “Everyone knows the legend of Chelsea, its tradition of winning. To be a part of that is a proud moment.

“When I spoke with the manager, I saw that we have the same direction and desire for this club. We want to win. 

“When you see the quality of the players here, everything we have around the club, it's something that we can achieve. The ambition is to lift trophies.”

Lacroix, 26, is expected to partner Levi Colwill at the heart of Alonso’s defence whenever he opts to play with a back four, while the former Wolfsburg defender would sit in the middle of a trio of centre-backs should the Spaniard change it up.

Most importantly, Lacroix can hit the ground running thanks to the invaluable experience gained during two memorable years with Palace.

Speaking exclusively to Chelsea’s official website, he added: “I think it’s the best move for me because it’s the best club in the world.

“I spoke with the manager on the phone. We spoke about tactics, we spoke about how he sees the game.

“First of all, I was happy just to speak about football with him, and I saw that we have the same direction and desire for this club.

“When I spoke also with the people I know from the national team who play for Chelsea, like Malo [Gusto], they told me it was the best club I can go to.

“Of course, I know the Premier League and I have also won trophies in England already, so I'm really happy to go into this next step in my career and to continue this story.”

After lifting the FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference League with the Eagles, Lacroix will be desperate to get his hands on silverware with the Blues.

But for starters, Alonso is banking on him to bring stability to a previously fragile defence as a new era begins at Stamford Bridge.

DAZN/FIFA

How to watch the Premier League in Canada

Soccer fans in Canada can watch every Premier League match during the 2026-27 season on DAZN.

With Fubo Sports on DAZN, Canadians can catch Premier League and Serie A action. Additionally, DAZN is the home of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Bundesliga, and more.

For pricing information and to sign up to watch, click here.