Chelsea have won the race for the signature of Crystal Palace starlet Jesse Derry.
Derry was pursued by a whole host of leading clubs across Europe this summer after shining for Palace’s Under-21s while still a teenager last season.
The 18-year-old was previously named Palace’s Under-18 player of the season at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
The experienced England youth international has now committed his future to Chelsea, signing a contract that runs until 2029.
Derry, a versatile attacking player, was also wanted by RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, as well as being linked with Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus.
The battle to secure the youngster hotted up once it became clear he was planning to leave Palace, who naturally were desperate to keep him in their own youth setup.
Derry wrote on Instagram on Thursday: “A dream come true to join the world champions.” He also shared a photo of himself as a young child wearing a Chelsea shirt, with the caption “from young”.
Earlier on Thursday, Derry published a statement on the same social media website thanking Palace for his time with the Eagles.
“I’d like to take a moment to say a massive thank you to every team-mate and staff member who supported and believed in me throughout my 13 years at Crystal Palace,” he wrote.
“I took great pride in wearing the shirt, and it holds unforgettable memories that will stay with me forever. Now, it’s time for a new journey.”
New Era, the agency which represents Derry, said in a statement: “While a number of top clubs were in the race for Jesse's signature, once Chelsea made contact, it was clear he had his heart set on joining the world champions.”
The 18-year-old is the son of the former Palace and QPR midfielder Shaun Derry.
