Chelsea's Jesse Derry Set for Premier League Debut as Thiago Silva Attends Match

Jesse Derry, an 18-year-old attacker, is set to make his Premier League debut for Chelsea in their match against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. Derry joined Chelsea on a four-year deal after leaving Crystal Palace in 2025. He had developed through Palace's youth academy and represented England at the under-19 level.

Born on June 30, 2007, Derry is the son of former professional footballer and manager Shaun Derry. During the 2023/24 season at Crystal Palace, he was named the club's under-18s player of the season after scoring 16 goals in 22 matches. He made his debut for Palace's under-18s while still in school.

Although offered new terms by Palace, Derry chose to move to Chelsea. In the 2024/25 campaign, he played for Palace's youth and under-21 sides. At Chelsea, Derry first appeared in senior football on February 13, 2026, as a substitute in a 4-0 FA Cup win over Hull City.

He scored in Chelsea's development squad matches, including a 5-0 win over Newcastle and an 86th-minute goal against Burnley in Premier League Two. Derry also contributed to a 5-2 UEFA Youth League victory over Benfica in September 2025.

On the international stage, Derry scored against Germany and the Netherlands at the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He added a goal in a 7-0 win over Wales and a hat-trick in England's 7-0 Euro 2026 qualifying victory over Latvia.

The debut occurs in a key Premier League clash, with Chelsea aiming to end a poor run of form. Chelsea recently advanced to the FA Cup final after defeating Leeds United. Derry lines up in a front four alongside Cole Palmer, captain Enzo Fernandez, and Joao Pedro.

Nottingham Forest, managed by Vitor Pereira, made eight changes to preserve players for their upcoming Europa League second leg against Aston Villa. Forest won the first leg 1-0, with Chris Wood scoring from a penalty. The team has remained unbeaten since March 12, including wins over Burnley and Sunderland.

Thiago Silva attended the match at Stamford Bridge. His sons play in Chelsea's academy.

Chelsea's interim boss Calum McFarlane, in his second spell, has placed trust in the young player for this fixture. Forest's focus remains on their mid-week European game at Villa Park.