**Ex-Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has praised his former club’s decision to sign Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace.**
The Blues officially announced the arrival of the France international in a deal worth £52m last week, and asked about his thoughts on the centre-back, Cahill said:
“He’s a great player, and it’s a really smart signing. I think he’s at a great age now as well and he’s had that experience of playing regularly in the Premier League.”
“There’s still plenty of years ahead of him to progress and learn. And to come to a club like Chelsea, it gives him that platform to kick on.”
“He’s obviously been involved at the World Cup with the French national team, and he’s put himself on that platform and into that sort of pedigree now. But again, similar to when I moved to Chelsea, you get that opportunity to take your career to the next level.”
Cahill has drawn parallels between his own career and the Frenchman’s, having joined from bottom-half club Bolton Wanderers for £7m at the beginning of 2012.
During his six-and-a-half-year stint with the Blues, Cahill won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, the League Cup, the Champions League, and two Europa Leagues.
If Lacroix manages to win anything close to that number of trophies whilst with Chelsea, his time with the club will be classed as an overwhelming success.
How will Alonso deploy him in his Chelsea team?
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Many assume that [**Lacroix**](https://chelseanews.com/blog/chelsea-transfer-news-maxence-lacroix-5/) will be selected in the middle of the back three, having played a similar role at his two previous clubs – Wolfsburg and Palace.
However, Manager Xabi Alonso has started pre-season using a back four in his first two friendlies against Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham. If the Spaniard does stick with that formation, he could choose to partner his new signing with Levi Colwill.