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Maxence Lacroix has declared Chelsea the "best club in the world" following the completion of his transfer from Crystal Palace.
The two clubs reached a deal last week valued at approximately £52 million ($69.3 million), with Lacroix now having signed a six-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
He becomes the third addition of the Xabi Alonso era at Chelsea, joining Marco Palestra and Morgan Rogers, while Emmanuel Emegha, Geovany Quenda and Dastan Satpayev have all finalized pre-arranged transfers.
Rogers referred to Chelsea as the "biggest club in London" upon completing his own move, but Lacroix took his praise even further when speaking about his new side.
"I think it's the best move for me because it's the best club in the world," Lacroix told club media.
"I spoke with Malo [Gusto]. I spoke with Trev [Chalobah]. I spoke with Benoît [Badiashile]. It's easy for people to speak well about this club because it has a lot of big history and I'm really proud to be a part of it now.
"I had a conversation with the manager over the phone. We discussed tactics and his vision of the game. First and foremost, I was just delighted to talk football with him, and I could see that we share the same direction and ambition for this club.
"When I spoke with the gaffer, and also with the people I know from the national team who play for Chelsea, like Malo, they told me it was the best club I could possibly join.
"So I was already thinking: 'O.K., I don't need to overthink this.' After speaking with everyone, I told myself: 'This is the best step forward for me.'"
Why Have Chelsea Signed Lacroix?
The center back position proved to be a particularly sensitive issue at Chelsea last season, when Levi Colwill's summer ACL injury prompted then-manager Enzo Maresca to publicly call for a replacement. The club's refusal to act on that request fueled behind-the-scenes friction that ultimately contributed to his exit in January.
Even with Colwill back fit, Chelsea entered this summer intent on strengthening their defensive options and quickly identified Lacroix as their primary target. The 26-year-old spent four impressive seasons in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg before swiftly establishing himself as a commanding presence in the Palace backline following his arrival two years ago.
That kind of Premier League-proven quality sits high on Chelsea's list of priorities this summer, with the Blues also edging closer to deals for 35-year-old striker Danny Welbeck and 36-year-old midfielder Jordan Henderson, marking a significant shift away from their previously contentious transfer approach.
Lacroix has not been brought in solely for his experience, however, and is expected to play a key role under Alonso in the upcoming season, especially with several of Chelsea's current center backs being made available for sale.
Chelsea are willing to entertain offers for Trevoh Chalobah, who logged more minutes than any other Blues center back in the Premier League last season, while both Badiashile and Axel Disasi are also understood to be on the transfer market.
Mamadou Sarr and Aarón Anselmino could both head out on loan, while questions have also been raised over the futures of Wesley Fofana and Josh Acheampong.