Rio Ferdinand has been talking on his podcast about who he considers the biggest talents in the Premier League right now, and he included a Chelsea academy player on the list.

"You know, the four, right now, if I had to bet, I'd say these four, and you know what? Probably not even these four will be the ones who end up dominating the Premier League and doing crazy things," Ferdinand said.

"Jesse Derry, I know his dad, Shaun; he's a former player, but I know the kid, wow, crazy, not just talent, but like, truly, like a kid who loves the game.

"You know, certain kids just love football and live and breathe it. All the time, he makes those easy passes, and those passes that you see, still, they're from those kids."

Derry has emerged as one of the most promising talents from Chelsea's academy following his first-team debut in February 2026. The 18-year-old attacker, son of former footballer Shaun Derry, joined the London club in the summer of 2025 from Crystal Palace on a four-year contract that runs through June 2029.

His transfer was completed following an outstanding spell with the Eagles, where he was named Under-18 Player of the Season after scoring 16 goals in 22 games.

Derry made his official debut with Chelsea's senior team on Feb. 13, 2026, coming on as a second-half substitute during the 4-0 victory over Hull City in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Manager Liam Rosenior praised the young winger's performance, highlighting his ability to adapt after joining the club's youth ranks. Before his professional debut, Derry had already accumulated notable statistics in Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League, adding 11 goals and four assists in 23 appearances with the development teams.

It's an interesting choice; we can all see that Jesse has enormous talent and recently made his first-team debut. But compared to some players from the recent (and current) academy, we wouldn't say there's huge hype around him. Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, for example, seems to be more highly rated within Cobham at the moment.

Roundtablesports is Free to join! You can post your own thoughts, comment on articles, and start conversations with our Roundtable Writers. 

Download the FREE Roundtable APP, and get even easier access to your favorite teams and news!