Axel Disasi: Crystal Palace sign Chelsea defender on season-long loan

Crystal Palace have signed Chelsea defender Axel Disasi on a straight season-long loan, with no option or obligation to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.

The 28-year-old centre-back becomes Palace’s seventh signing of the transfer window and will strengthen their defence following the departure of Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea.

Disasi remains under contract at Chelsea until 2029 but did not feature for the club last season. The France international has five senior caps and joined Chelsea in 2023.

Since moving to Stamford Bridge, Disasi has also spent time on loan at Aston Villa and West Ham. He made 14 Premier League appearances for West Ham last season, taking his total number of top-flight appearances across his spells with Chelsea, Aston Villa and West Ham to 58.

The defender said he was encouraged by Crystal Palace’s progress and believed Selhurst Park was the right place for him to continue his career.

“I’m very happy. The club has been going in a very good direction, so I think it was the right place for me to keep going,” he said.

Disasi also referred to the difficulty of facing Palace at their home ground, where he will now play as a home player rather than an opponent.

“I know that it’s very tough to play against Palace at Selhurst Park – so I’m looking forward to being on the other side now.”

Palace chairman Steve Parish welcomed the experience and quality Disasi brings to the squad, and said he was looking forward to watching the defender play at Selhurst Park.

“We are pleased welcome a defender of Axel’s experience and calibre to Palace for the season. I look forward to seeing him in action at Selhurst Park,” Parish said.

Disasi joined Chelsea in 2023 and remains tied to the club for a further three years beyond the conclusion of his temporary move to Crystal Palace. His previous loan spells at Aston Villa and West Ham came after his arrival at Chelsea, with his most recent Premier League football coming for West Ham last season.

His move to Palace follows the transfer of Lacroix to Chelsea and gives the club another senior defensive option for the season ahead. The agreement is limited to the current campaign, with Palace having neither a purchase option nor a requirement to buy Disasi when the loan ends.

The deal was confirmed on 26 August 2026.