A deal for Crystal Palace to sign Chrislain Matsima from Augsburg is now ‘progressing rapidly’ according to reports in France.
A new story from Foot Mercato claims that the Frenchman has now verbally agreed personal terms with the UEFA Conference League winners during talks, while Crystal Palace and Augsburg are locked in advanced discussions over a fee.
It is unclear how much the move will cost the Eagles, but past reports have said Augsburg hope to receive £26m for Matsima – who has a contract running until July 2030.
Once the deal is finalised, it should free up Maxence Lacroix to seal his £60m move to Chelsea.
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It will be a shame to lose the France international, but the numbers suggest Pierre Sage could be getting a more trusty operator in Matsima.
How Chrislain Matsima compares to Maxence Lacroix as Crystal Palace close in
For one, the 24-year-old commits fewer fouls than Lacroix, who memorably cost Crystal Palace with rash challenges away to Everton and Manchester United last season which both resulted in penalties.
WhoScored claim that Matsima committed only 0.6 fouls per game in the Bundesliga last term, whereas Lacroix’s WhoScored page shows he recorded one foul every 90 minutes.
The figures suggest Matsima – who tore a tendon last term – is also better at reading the game in comparison to the former VfL Wolfsburg defender.
WhoScored state that the former Monaco man registered 1.7 interceptions per game in the Bundesliga last term, whereas Lacroix had 1.3 in the Premier League in comparison.
That said, there is still a vast difference in aerial dominance between the man we are about to lose and Matsima.
The Augsburg No.5 recorded only 2.2 successful aerial duels per game in the Bundesliga in the 2025/26 campaign, whereas Lacroix won 3.4 in the vastly more physical Premier League.
These numbers suggest Matsima might need some time to adjust to how often the ball is in the air in the Premier League nowadays as long throws and corners begin to take over, but on the ground, there is evidence to argue he may even be better than Lacroix.
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It must be said that the story from Foot Mercato comes at a strange time, considering a strong English outlet in the Telegraph claimed that Crystal Palace opened talks with Chelsea for Axel Disasi just hours before the reports in France emerged.
With Fabrizio Romano adding that Disasi is unwilling to join – however – Matsima was seemingly the chosen alternative.
