The London giants are well-known for securing gifted youngsters early and nurturing them into elite performers. This upcoming season, they’ll welcome 18-year-olds Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez into their ranks. ..Continue Reading
Reports suggest Chelsea have clinched a deal to acquire Crystal Palace’s rising star Jesse Derry, edging out eight other clubs in a competitive pursuit.
A host of prestigious teams including PSG, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Celtic, Rangers, and Bayern Munich were all reportedly in the chase for the talented 18-year-old.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed on X that the England U19 winger was initially bound for a move to the Bundesliga.
However, Romano now reports that Chelsea have swooped in to intercept the deal, with the youngster scheduled for a medical examination at Stamford Bridge on Friday.
Derry, versatile on both flanks, let his contract expire at Crystal Palace, prompting Chelsea to pay a compensation fee to secure his arrival.
In the U18 Premier League, Derry stood out with a remarkable tally of 19 goals and 4 assists over the course of 24 matches.
He’s also had stints with the Palace U21 squad, making waves among scouts after scoring against RB Leipzig’s U21 team.
Praised for his speed and assertive style of play, Derry becomes the newest addition to Chelsea’s crop of breakout hopefuls aiming to earn first-team opportunities.
He has previously taken the pitch alongside Arsenal prospects Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri while representing England at the U19 level.
Jesse is the son of Shaun Derry, a former Crystal Palace midfielder who made 222 appearances for the South London side.
In other news, Chelsea fans are already predicting legendary status for Thiago Silva’s son after his recent signing as part of the 2025-26 scholarship intake.
Chelsea revealed their latest batch of first-year scholars this week, with Isago Silva among the 16 talented youngsters unveiled ahead of the season.
Primarily playing at left-back, Isago can also slot into central defense when needed.
His father, Thiago Silva, donned the Chelsea shirt 155 times between 2020 and 2024, a period in which the club lifted the Champions League trophy.
Joining the scholarship class is another standout: 16-year-old sensation Reggie Walsh.
Walsh is the only scholar from the 2025-26 group who has already featured for the senior team, having played in the Conference League last campaign.
