Chelsea Confirm Maxence Lacroix as No. 5 After Trevoh Chalobah Joins Como

Editor’s correction, 6 November 2026: This article previously stated that Maxence Lacroix would wear Chelsea’s No. 23 shirt. Chelsea’s official squad announcement confirmed that he was assigned No. 5 for the 2026/27 season.

Chelsea confirmed the signing of French defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace on 30 July 2026, with the player agreeing to a contract running until 2032.

The move strengthened Chelsea’s defensive options ahead of the new Premier League campaign following Lacroix’s two seasons with Crystal Palace. Chelsea’s announcement also noted his international experience with France.

Separate developments affected the future of Trevoh Chalobah, the academy graduate who had been linked with a move to Italy. Chelsea subsequently announced on 9 August that Chalobah had completed a permanent transfer to Como, ending an association with the London club that began when he joined its youth setup.

Speculation about which shirt number Lacroix would take circulated before Chelsea published its full 2026/27 squad list. The club subsequently confirmed Lacroix as No. 5. Chelsea assigned its No. 23 shirt to another summer signing, Geovany Quenda.

The final squad announcement therefore supersedes the earlier speculation about Lacroix inheriting Chalobah’s previous number.

Sources: Chelsea announcement of Lacroix’s signing, 30 July 2026; Chelsea announcement of Chalobah’s move, 9 August 2026; Chelsea’s official 2026/27 squad-number announcement.