Crystal Palace Pursue Loan for Chelsea Defender Axel Disasi
Crystal Palace are pushing to sign Chelsea defender Axel Disasi on loan, with the club moving quickly to plug the gap left by Maxence Lacroix’s big-money exit to Stamford Bridge.
Disasi, 28, has been frozen out at Chelsea since January 2025. He was banished to the club’s so‑called “bomb squad” before spending the second half of last season on loan at West Ham United, and has not featured for the Blues since.
Palace sense an opportunity.
Lacroix’s £52m move to Chelsea has ripped a hole straight through the heart of the new manager’s defence, and the response from Selhurst Park has been swift. According to reports from Sky Sports News and talkSPORT, Palace are now closing in on a deal to bring the French centre-back across London.
Manager's Requirements
New Palace boss Sage has been open about what he wants: experience, authority, and someone who already knows the Premier League.
At his Thursday press conference, Sage did not dress it up. "Yes. We need a player in this department, a player with a lot of games, if possible, in the Premier League," he said. "We need players, but we need a leader and that's why we need to wait a little bit to find a good one."
The need is clear. The back line has lost its anchor, and Sage wants a commanding presence to organise and talk his way through games, not just another body in the squad.
Disasi fits that profile. A full France international with Premier League minutes under his belt and a point to prove after being cast aside at Chelsea, he offers exactly the kind of edge and experience Palace have been missing since Lacroix’s departure.
Defender's Status
Sage, though, stayed cautious when pressed directly on the Chelsea defender.
"He's a player from Chelsea, it's difficult for me to speak about a player of another club, but I hear the same noise as you," he admitted.
The noise is growing. If Palace get this over the line, a defender Chelsea no longer trust could become the leader Sage builds his new defence around.
