Opinion: Maxence Lacroix's Arrival Could Spell Trouble For Chelsea Wonderkid | OneFootball

What Chelsea's players can expect in pre-season under Xabi Alonso. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Chelsea have brought in another centre-back, Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace this summer, but what does it mean for Josh Acheampong’s future at the club?

Considering the inconsistency in Chelsea’s defensive performance last season, it is hardly a surprise that the club decided to sign Lacroix.

The Crystal Palace defender’s quality will certainly improve Chelsea’s defence, but it also puts the club under pressure to offload some of their many centre-back options to make space.

Yet, Acheampong is understood to be one of the defenders Chelsea plan to keep.

The 20-year-old is even reported to be among the players Chelsea consider “untouchable”, and there is a good reason for that.

Acheampong earned his official promotion to the first team in December 2024 under Enzo Maresca at 18, having previously made his senior debut earlier that year under Mauricio Pochettino.

The jump to the senior side means he has trained with better players daily, but it has also severely limited his minutes on the pitch.

He made 12 appearances for the first team in 2024/25, only four of which were in the Premier League.

The numbers increased to 30 appearances last season, 17 of them in the Premier League.

However, it is worth noting that Levi Colwill’s long-term injury absence likely inflated his numbers, and a large portion of these were as a substitute.

In total, the Chelsea academy graduate has made 10 Premier League starts for Chelsea since his first-team promotion.

There is an argument that he is simply not given enough chances to make mistakes and learn from them on the pitch, whereas the likes of Colwill and Reece James had theirs when they were on loan at Brighton and Wigan, respectively.

Crystal Palace, who would soon need to replace Lacroix, who has now officially joined Chelsea, is reported to be interested in signing Acheampong on loan.

Chelsea, as previously mentioned, remain reluctant to let go of the young talent, but this could prove beneficial for his development.

It should also not be difficult for Chelsea to find other suitors who would agree to a loan deal with a clause for guaranteed minutes for Acheampong, given how talented he is.

In an ideal world, however, Acheampong should be competing for a starting spot at Chelsea.

But Alonso, or even some of the fans, may not have the patience to risk the season for the young defender's development after a frustrating campaign last season.