Why Chibuike Nwaiwu’s Crystal Palace move may be over despite Lacroix joining Chelsea

Crystal Palace previously looked certain to enter the race for Super Eagles defender Chibuike Nwaiwu after Maxence Lacroix completed his move to Chelsea, Afrik-Foot reports.

However, the Premier League club’s transfer plans appear to have changed with the Nigeria international no longer at the centre of their focus.

Chelsea have agreed a £52 million (€60m) deal for Lacroix after the French defender successfully completed his medical in London, according to transfer market insider Fabrizio Romano. The 26-year-old is expected to sign a six-year contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until June 2032.

Lacroix arrives at Chelsea having built an excellent reputation in the Premier League over the past two seasons. Last term, he was the only player in the division to record at least 50 tackles, 200 duels won and 250 clearances. Standing 6ft 4in tall and capable of reaching a top speed of 35.81 km/h, he also impressed with France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making three appearances.

His departure leaves Palace searching for defensive reinforcements, and Nwaiwu had emerged as one of the names on the club’s shortlist after an impressive rise with Trabzonspor and his recent Super Eagles debut.

Palace shift focus as Nwaiwu slips down the list

The 23-year-old Nigerian centre-back enjoyed a remarkable first six months in Turkey after joining Trabzonspor from Austrian side Wolfsberger AC in January.

Nwaiwu quickly established himself in the starting team, making 16 appearances and scoring three headed goals. His performances also earned him his senior Nigeria debut in March, where he featured in the Super Eagles’ 2-1 victory over Iran.

His rapid development attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Fulham, West Ham and Crystal Palace. Trabzonspor, however, placed a €30 million (£25m) valuation on the defender, making any deal far from straightforward.

Fulham moved quickly by reaching a verbal agreement on personal terms with Nwaiwu and have continued discussions with Trabzonspor over a transfer fee.

Crystal Palace monitored the situation and even made enquiries about Nwaiwu. However, reports suggested Augsburg defender Chrislain Matsima was the club’s first choice, with Palace attempting to negotiate after seeing an opening €20 million bid rejected.

Nwaiwu was viewed mainly as an alternative if the Matsima deal failed. Even with transfer speculation growing, he remained part of Trabzonspor’s pre-season squad that travelled to Austria, showing that the Turkish club are not under pressure to sell.

Le Guen agreement changes everything

Palace’s pursuit of Nwaiwu has now suffered another major setback following the club’s agreement to sign highly-rated French defender Raphaël Le Guen.

The 19-year-old is seen as a long-term investment who fits Palace’s recruitment model of signing talented young defenders with high potential.

Standing at 6ft 6in, Le Guen offers many of the same physical qualities that attracted Palace to Nwaiwu, including his dominance in the air and commanding presence at the back. More importantly, he represents a cheaper option than the Nigerian, whose €30 million asking price would have forced Palace into an expensive bidding battle with Fulham.

New Palace manager Pierre Sage is also believed to have played a significant role in pushing for Le Guen, using his strong knowledge of the French market. The move follows the club’s successful recruitment of young French defender Jaydee Canvot, who established himself after Marc Guéhi’s departure.

With Le Guen now set to arrive and Matsima still firmly on Palace’s radar, Palace’s need for another centre-back has reduced significantly. That development leaves Nwaiwu’s chances of moving to Selhurst Park looking increasingly slim. At the same time, Fulham now appear to be in the strongest position to complete a deal for a defender tipped to be the cornerstone of the Super Eagles’ defence for the best part of the next decade.