Chelsea Football Club has officially announced the signing of 18-year-old winger Jesse Derry from Crystal Palace. The England Under-19 international has agreed to a contract that runs until 2029 .
Derry has been a standout talent in Palace’s youth ranks, earning the Under-18s Player of the Season award for the 2023/24 campaign. He made the transition to the Under-21s last season and also represented England at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship .
The young winger was pursued by several top European clubs, including Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and Atlético Madrid. However, Chelsea secured his signature, reportedly beating out competition from eight other clubs . Derry expressed his excitement on social media, calling it “a dream come true to join the world champions” and sharing a childhood photo in a Chelsea shirt .The son of former Crystal Palace midfielder Shaun Derry, Jesse has been part of the Eagles’ youth system for 13 years. He thanked the club for their support and expressed pride in his time there before embarking on this new chapter at Stamford Bridge .Chelsea’s acquisition of Derry underscores their commitment to investing in young talent and building for the future.
