Chelsea have struck a deal to sign highly-rated 18-year-old winger Jesse Derry from Crystal Palace, fending off strong interest from eight top European clubs in a major statement of intent for the future.
The Blues, under the new leadership of manager Enzo Maresca, have moved swiftly to secure the signature of the England youth international, who has been on the radar of clubs from Germany, France, Spain and Italy thanks to his standout performances at youth level.
Derry, known for his electric pace, fearless dribbling and natural flair on the flanks, is seen as one of the brightest English prospects in his age group. His move to Stamford Bridge is expected to be finalized in the coming days after personal terms were agreed and a medical scheduled.
The winger is the son of former Crystal Palace player and coach Shaun Derry, and has grown through the ranks at Selhurst Park, impressing coaches with his maturity and confidence on the ball.
Sources close to the deal suggest that Chelsea’s long-term development plan and recent success in nurturing young talents like Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill were key in Derry choosing the West London side over other European heavyweights.
Derry is likely to join Chelsea’s development squad initially, but there is optimism he could break into the first team in the near future given his rapid progress and the club’s emphasis on youth.
This signing underlines Chelsea’s ongoing strategy of investing in young, homegrown talent to build a competitive core for years to come.
