Jesse Derry chose to leave Crystal Palace for Chelsea back in July 2025.
The son of Shaun Derry rejected ‘multiple’ contract offers from Crystal Palace – according to BBC Sport – in favour of moving to Stamford Bridge, having grown up supporting Chelsea due to his boyhood admiration for Eden Hazard.
However, Derry only made three appearances at Chelsea last season, and does not seem to be part of Xabi Alonso’s plans as a loan move to Sporting CP is now imminent.
How are we feeling about this news, Crystal Palace fans? 🔴 🔵
Could be one of the most important deals we do this summer 🦅
Jesse Derry ought to have stayed at Selhurst Park as Chelsea send England U19 international to Portugal
The 19-year-old is now set to spend the 2026/27 campaign on loan in Lisbon.
Some will argue this is a good move for Derry, who will get the chance to play UEFA Champions League football for a European giant – so long as he breaks into the team, that is.
However, given the immense competition for places back at Chelsea, it feels unlikely that the teenager will get an opportunity back in west London regardless of how well he does in Lisbon.
Chelsea already have a number of forwards such as Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Pedro Neto, Estevao, Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Geovany Quenda, so there is hardly a clear pathway for Derry.
In contrast, a 16-year-old was given a start in Europe at Crystal Palace last season as Joel Drakes-Thomas lined up against KuPS, while other academy graduates in Rio Cardines, Ben Casey, Dean Benamar and George King made senior debuts as well.
Considering the UEFA Europa League involves two more league phase matches than the UEFA Conference League, there is scope for Pierre Sage to hand out even more opportunities to young talents next season.
Derry – who Oliver Glasner involved in senior training – absolutely would have been involved at Crystal Palace right now had he stayed, given how effective the attacker was in our youth ranks.
The Harrogate-born forward scored 20 goals in 27 appearances for the Crystal Palace U18 side before joining Chelsea, also providing five assists.
Crystal Palace’s fixtures are out for the 2026/27 season! Which game are you most excited for? 🤔
We wish Derry well as he embarks on a new adventure in Lisbon, although it feels like he will have to deliver some quite exceptional performances for Sporting CP in order to get a chance back at Chelsea.
