On the day that Lacroix completed his move across London and the Premier League from Crystal Palace to Chelsea, we sat down with the Blues’ newest recruit to look through some of the numbers which highlight why he has come to be regarded as one of English football’s brightest defensive talents.

In last season’s Premier League, Lacroix was the only player to register more than 50 tackles, 200 duels won and 250 clearances. Since he arrived in England in the summer of 2024, he is officially the top flight’s best one-on-one defender, with nobody else who has been involved in 50 or more such duels able to match his 50.5 per cent success rate.

However, when those numbers are put to him, Lacroix insists the secret to his success is simple.

‘I just love to defend!’ he responds with a laugh and a shrug. ‘For a defender, I think that’s really important, to enjoy defending and to be good in those one-on-one situations.

‘I’m happy because there’s also a lot of work that goes into that and, to have this type of statistic, I'm just proud of it.

‘Now I want to show those qualities that I have every day with Chelsea as well.’

It is a similar story when it comes to Lacroix’s leadership qualities. He first captained German side Wolfsburg on the pitch at the age of just 21, and was made permanent vice-captain less than a year later.

Upon his arrival in England at Crystal Palace, he instantly became one of the leaders in the Selhurst Park changing room. He played a key role on and off the pitch as the club claimed the first major silverware in their history by lifting the FA Cup in 2024/25, then followed it up with victory in the Community Shield and UEFA Conference League last season.

‘I’m really proud about showing leadership because I think it's really important for a team to have that,' the 26-year-old continued.

‘And it’s important for a defender to be a leader, because we are in the back and we can see everything on the pitch. So this is really important for us, to have this role.’

And the statistics keep coming. Only one outfield player outside of the Premier League’s top two teams contributed to more clean sheets in that competition than Lacroix last season, and no player full stop could better his average of 7.2 clearances per game.

Only four Premier League defenders managed more than his 119 aerial duels won, with a 61.3 per cent success rate. While his 6ft 4in frame no doubt helps, he is far from the only Premier League player with height on his side, and Lacroix credits advice he received on his stride and leap from an unexpected source as playing a part in his strength in the air too.

‘I asked someone who was a professional volleyball player and he showed me how they get their height in the air. He told me that they have a special technique to jump, and I tried my best to copy him.’

That is typical of the defender’s methodical approach to training, preparation and recovery, leaving no stone unturned and focusing on every detail in his determination to find any opportunity to improve further and gain an advantage on the pitch.

‘It's my mentality and, also, I have people around me who push me to move forward every time,’ he explained.

‘I think when you are good in every single one of the details, this is how you become the best professional player you can be. So I try my best to be focused on all the details.’

Now, following his move to Stamford Bridge, it will be the Chelsea supporters who get to enjoy seeing the best of Lacroix in the Premier League.