The French defender completed his move yesterday, signing a deal until 2032 after swapping Selhurst Park for Stamford Bridge.

A man who knows the two clubs well is Cahill, who moved in the opposite direction to Palace after a trophy-laden spell in SW6, where he was also Chelsea captain following John Terry’s departure.

And Cahill, who is out in Australia with the Blues on pre-season tour in a club ambassador role, believes Lacroix can really kick on and grow with Chelsea now he’s completed his switch to west London.

‘He's a great player and it’s a really smart signing,’ Cahill said of our new recruit. ‘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, a former centre-back like Lacroix, knows better than most what it takes to succeed at Chelsea, but he also understands what it’s like to represent the Eagles.

With Lacroix doing the reverse move to Gary's in 2019, our former skipper is excited to see what the Frenchman can offer.

‘I just think he’s a great player, it’s a really good signing, and a move that I'm sure he's really looking forward to getting stuck into and aiming to hit the ground running,’ added our former No.24.

‘I was at Palace for a couple of years, and I enjoyed my time there. He's done the same and he's progressed while he's been there.

‘It’s a big move for him, but also for the club and it will be exciting to see him come through the door and get started here.’