The defender has officially completed his move across the capital from Crystal Palace to Chelsea, becoming the latest addition to Alonso’s squad and joining Emmanuel Emegha, Marco Palestra, Geovany Quenda and Morgan Rogers on the list of our summer recruits.

He arrives already familiar with many of his new team-mates, having faced them as opponents in the Premier League over the last two seasons or played with them in the past. He also spent his summer alongside Malo Gusto as part of France’s World Cup squad.

On his arrival at his new club, Lacroix explained why he was left in no doubt as soon as he spoke to those players and manager Xabi Alonso that Stamford Bridge was the perfect place to continue his career.

‘I think it’s the best move for me because it’s the best club in the world,’ begins Lacroix.

‘I spoke with Malo. I spoke with Trev [Chalobah]. I spoke with Benoit [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 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 with the gaffer, when I spoke 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 can go to.

‘So already I was saying: "Okay, I don’t need to think too much". After talking to people I said to myself: “This is the best step forward for me”.’

Lacroix is well placed to make that judgement himself, having seen his new Chelsea team-mates in action at close quarters from across south London during his two years representing Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

That spell at Selhurst Park – where he won the FA Cup, UEFA Conference League and Community Shield – also means the Frenchman arrives at Stamford Bridge with plenty of experience of life in the Premier League, England and London under his belt already.

‘Of course, I know the 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 also this story in England for me,’ he continued.

‘I have only played once at Stamford Bridge but I remember the day very well. We drew [0-0 on the opening day of last season] and it was an unbelievable day. To be honest, it felt good playing there. So now I'm just waiting to take my first step there as a Chelsea player.’

However, Lacroix’s most recent experience facing some of his new team-mates as opponents came just one week ago, not in the Premier League, but in the third-place play-off at the World Cup.

Lacroix played that full match for France, coming directly up against fellow new Chelsea signing Morgan Rogers, who was in the starting line-up for eventual winners England – in addition to Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah coming off the bench. It is safe to say Maxence is looking forward to having Rogers playing with him rather than against him in future.

‘Of course! We want the best players in our team, of course. But I think when I saw the players like Reece, like Morgan, I'm just really happy to be also in a way in their story, you know? To write part of the Chelsea story with them.

‘I'm really proud, really happy, to be part of this beautiful project and I just want to start playing.

‘I’m really excited to see the guys, to see the manager, to start the season, because I feel like we have a story to write here, and I can be part of it, so it's beautiful.’