Chelsea agree loan deal for Jesse Derry after new contract, Romano confirms

insider has confirmed that Chelsea have reached an agreement to send teenage winger Jesse Derry on loan to Sporting Lisbon for the upcoming season, with the 19-year-old signing a new contract at Stamford Bridge before the move. Derry, who joined Chelsea from Crystal Palace in 2025, made three senior appearances last term — including a surprise Premier League start against Nottingham Forest in May under interim coach Calum McFarlane, who knew him from the youth setup. That debut ended early after Derry suffered a head injury and was forced off. Despite interest from several European clubs — Bayern Munich among them — Chelsea rejected all permanent offers for the winger, believing he needs competitive minutes to develop. The loan to Sporting carries no buy option, and the Portuguese side will cover his wages. Romano noted that the deal was helped by the strong relationship between Chelsea and Sporting, built on recent transfers of Geovany Quenda and midfielder Dario Essugo moving to London. Chelsea have already completed a €57 million signing this summer, while Marc Cucurella and Tyrique George are the only first-team departures so far. The move allows Chelsea to keep Derry within their long-term plans while he gains experience in Portugal’s top flight.