Crystal Palace Near Deal to Sign Axel Disasi From Chelsea: London 2026

Key Points

• Agreement Imminent: Crystal Palace are closing in on a season-long loan deal with Chelsea for 28-year-old French central defender Axel Disasi.
• Medical Scheduled: Disasi is scheduled to undergo a medical examination on Friday ahead of completing his temporary switch across London.
• Lacroix Replacement: The Eagles identified Disasi as a primary defensive target following the £52 million sale of French centre-back Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea earlier this transfer window.
• Managerial Demand: New Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage publicly requested an experienced Premier League defender with strong leadership qualities to reinforce his backline.
• Stamford Bridge Exile: Disasi has been completely frozen out at Chelsea under manager Xabi Alonso, having trained away from the main squad and seeing his squad number reassigned to new signing Marco Palestra.
• Previous Stints: Disasi spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham United, having previously completed a brief loan spell at Aston Villa.
• Firm Transfer Stance: Alongside the Disasi deal, Crystal Palace have rejected inquiries from Manchester City for midfielder Adam Wharton and turned down a £26 million offer from Galatasaray for forward Ismaïla Sarr.

LONDON (South London News) August 21, 2026 —Crystal Palace are on the verge of securing an agreement with Premier League rivals Chelsea to sign out-of-favour central defender Axel Disasi on a season-long loan deal. The 28-year-old French international has been effectively frozen out at Stamford Bridge and is now preparing to complete a temporary cross-London move to bolster manager Pierre Sage’s defensive unit ahead of the new campaign.

As reported by Ed Aarons of The Guardian, Crystal Palace have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Disasi on loan and are expecting the player to complete his medical examination on Friday before finalizing the transfer terms.

As detailed by Nizaar Kinsella of The Standard, an agreement is fully in place between the two London clubs following extensive discussions, with Palace stepping up their efforts after exploring alternative recruitment avenues in recent weeks.

As outlined by Bobby Vincent of football.london, Palace initially approached Chelsea regarding a potential transfer for England Under-21 international Josh Acheampong to solve their defensive shortage. However, following Chelsea’s refusal to allow Acheampong to depart Stamford Bridge, Palace shifted their focus directly to Disasi. The move comes as Palace continue to construct their squad for their inaugural campaign under French tactician Pierre Sage.

Why did Pierre Sage prioritize the signing of a new central defender?

The urgent pursuit of a new central defender became a top priority for Crystal Palace following the departure of Maxence Lacroix, who moved to Chelsea earlier in the summer transfer window in a transaction valued at £52 million. Lacroix’s departure left a significant void in the center of Palace’s defensive line, prompting Sage to publicly address the club’s strategy in the market.

As reported by Sky Sports News and talkSPORT, Sage outlined his specific transfer criteria during a press conference on Thursday, stating:

“We need a player in this department, a player with a lot of games, if possible, in the Premier League. We need players, but we need a leader and that’s why we need to wait a little bit to find a good one.”

When directly questioned about the ongoing transfer links with Disasi, Sage remarked:

“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.”

What is Axel Disasi’s current situation at Chelsea under Xabi Alonso?

Disasi’s long-term future at Stamford Bridge has been uncertain for an extended period. Having initially signed for Chelsea from AS Monaco in 2023, the defender has not featured in a competitive match for the Blues since January 2025.

As reported by Goal, Disasi was previously relegated to Chelsea’s separate training group—often referred to as the ‘bomb squad’—before spending the second half of last season on loan at West Ham United.

His departure from Stamford Bridge became inevitable this week after his primary squad number, No. 2, was officially reassigned to new signing Marco Palestra under newly appointed Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso.

As noted by football.london, Disasi spent the current pre-season period working at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground away from Alonso’s primary first-team squad alongside players such as Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson, and Mykhailo Mudryk.

Despite interest from Serie A clubs AC Milan and Roma following his loan spell at West Ham, Disasi opted to remain in the Premier League by accepting the proposal from Selhurst Park.

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How does this transfer impact Crystal Palace’s broader transfer activity?

The agreement for Disasi coincides with a firm stance from the Selhurst Park hierarchy regarding other key first-team players amidst late transfer window interest from rival clubs.

As reported by The Guardian, Crystal Palace have officially informed Manchester City that midfielder Adam Wharton is not available for transfer. City made an inquiry regarding the 22-year-old England international, but Palace remain determined to retain him, with sources noting that the club would require an exceptional fee to consider a sale given Wharton’s three remaining years on his contract.

Commenting on Wharton’s situation ahead of Palace’s Premier League opener against Everton, Sage stated:

“We sold big players and now I think it’s not the moment to do that. Adam can play at a big club but I think one year with us, one year with a new dynamic, will be good for him and we need him.”

Similarly, Palace turned down a bid in the region of £26 million from Turkish side Galatasaray for Senegal forward Ismaïla Sarr. Regarding Sarr, Sage added:

“We will keep him. He’s a really important player for the club and for us. He will be able to play this weekend.”

Background of the particular development

Axel Disasi arrived in English football in August 2023 when Chelsea secured his signature from French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco on a six-year contract worth approximately £38.8 million. During his debut season at Stamford Bridge, the center-back featured regularly across all competitions, exhibiting physical presence and versatility by operating both at central defense and right-back.

However, subsequent managerial changes and structural squad overhauls at Chelsea led to a reduction in Disasi’s first-team opportunities.

By early 2025, the defender was excluded from core first-team training sessions at Cobham as the club sought to trim its enlarged playing squad.

To secure regular playing time, Disasi accepted a loan move to West Ham United for the second half of the 2024–25 campaign, where he established himself as a starter and produced strong defensive displays despite the club’s ultimate struggle with relegation.

Despite interest from West Ham in making the transfer permanent, along with inquiries from overseas clubs in Serie A, Chelsea’s ongoing acquisition of defensive prospects—including the £52 million capture of Maxence Lacroix—further restricted Disasi’s route back into the squad under Xabi Alonso, prompting his second consecutive loan spell within the English capital.

Prediction: How this development affects Crystal Palace and its supporters

The addition of Axel Disasi provides Crystal Palace and its fanbase with immediate defensive stability and proven top-flight experience at a crucial juncture of the season. Following the departure of key defensive leader Maxence Lacroix, Palace supporters faced uncertainty regarding the structural integrity of the backline under new manager Pierre Sage.

By securing a seasoned Premier League defender who has already adapted to the physical demands of English football, Palace mitigate the risks typically associated with integrating overseas recruits late in the transfer window.

Disasi’s aerial dominance, tactical adaptability, and leadership qualities directly address the exact criteria highlighted by Sage, offering the squad enhanced depth as they navigate their domestic campaign. Furthermore, for the broader fan base, finalizing this deal alongside holding firm against bids for core assets like Adam Wharton signals strong ambition from the club hierarchy to remain competitive while providing structural support to the new managerial setup.