Chelsea to sign England youth international Jesse Derry after Crystal Palace exit

With Chelsea's signing of exciting young talent Jesse Derry, punters may consider placing bets on the team's prospects this season, especially if Derry proves to be a standout player in future fixtures.

Chelsea have signed England youth international Jesse Derry after his contract at Crystal Palace expired.

Derry, 18, refused to sign a professional deal at Palace, who are now expected to be awarded a significant fee in compensation.

Should a fee agreement between the clubs not be reached, the total due to Palace will be determined at a tribunal by the Professional Footballers’ Compensation Committee.

The Athletic reported in February that Derry – a winger or No 10 – had informed Palace that he intended to leave the club in the summer when his existing scholarship contract expired and that he would not sign fresh terms.

The England Under-19 international made 10 appearances in Premier League 2 last season but featured more frequently for the U-18 side – scoring nine goals in eight games.

In 2023-24, he was named Palace’s U-18s player of the season after scoring 16 goals in 22 appearances.

Derry is the son of Palace cult hero Shaun, who captained the team which avoided relegation from the Championship on the final day of the 2009-10 season, after being deducted 10 points following the club entering administration in January 2010.

Shaun returned to Palace after retiring as a player to become a coach but was sacked as first-team coach in January 2023 by then-manager Patrick Vieira and subsequently came back for a brief spell under Roy Hodgson after Vieira’s departure.

Derry is the third highly-rated academy player to leave Palace in quick succession, with 17-year-old striker Samuel Lusale departing for Manchester United in September, while Under-15s midfielder Reggie Watson moved to Chelsea last summer.

(Photo: Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

Derry, 18, refused to sign a professional deal at Palace, who are now expected to be awarded a significant fee in compensation.

Theathleticuk