Who is Jesse Derry? Chelsea youngster set to make Premier League debut
Jesse Derry is set to make his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest for Chelsea this afternoon, as Calum McFarlane puts his trust in the young 18-year-old.
The teenager joined the Blues on a four-year deal after departing Crystal Palace in 2025, where he had developed through the youth academy.
Already representing England at the under-19 level when he made the switch to west London, Derry brought with him an impressive pedigree from his time at Selhurst Park.
The young attacker, born on June 30, 2007, is the son of former professional footballer and manager Shaun Derry, with football running deep in the family bloodline.
Derry's breakthrough at Crystal Palace came during the 2023/24 season when he claimed the club's under-18s player of the season honour after finding the net 16 times across 22 matches.
Remarkably, the forward had already made his debut for Palace's under-18s whilst still attending school, showing his strong ability from an early age.
The Eagles recognised his potential and offered him fresh terms, though he ultimately opted to pursue his career elsewhere.
During the 2024/25 campaign, Derry continued turning out for Palace's youth sides whilst also stepping up to feature at under-21s level.
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Derry's first taste of senior football for Chelsea arrived on February 13, 2026, when he entered as a second-half substitute during the Blues' 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round triumph away to Championship outfit Hull City.
Prior to that milestone, the winger had already made his mark in Chelsea's development squads under McFarlane, netting in a comprehensive 5-0 victory at Newcastle and scoring a decisive 86th-minute goal against Burnley in Premier League Two.
His contribution to a 5-2 UEFA Youth League success over Benfica in late September 2025 further underlined his match-winning capabilities.
On the international stage, Derry has scored against Germany and the Netherlands at the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, before adding a goal in a 7-0 demolition of Wales and bagging a hat-trick in England's 7-0 Euro 2026 qualifying rout of Latvia.
His Premier League debut today comes in a key clash for both Chelsea and Forest, with the Blues looking to end their torrid run of form in the Premier League.
Chelsea advanced to the FA Cup final last weekend with victory over Leeds United, in McFarlane's first game under his second spell as interim boss.
Derry lines up in a front four of Cole Palmer, captain Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro leading the line.
They face a Forest side who have the majority of their attention on mid-week when they travel to Villa Park for the Europa League second leg.
Vitor Pereira has made eight changes heading into the contest, looking to keep as many fresh legs for Thursday's clash against Aston Villa.
Forest won 1-0 versus Villa in the first leg, with Chris Wood getting the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
Pereira's side have not lost since March 12, with commanding victories against Burnley and Sunderland capturing a fantastic run of form.
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