English-born Ghanaian defender, Josh Acheampong, made his full Premier League debut in Chelsea's 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The Blues, eager to end a three-game winless streak that included two defeats, relied on their academy graduate to bolster the defense in a critical London derby.
Head coach Enzo Maresca surprised fans by starting Acheampong alongside Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella in a youthful backline. The 18-year-old right-back’s inclusion marked a significant step in his development, having previously made only substitute appearances in the league.
Acheampong, a product of Chelsea’s Cobham academy, debuted for the senior team last season in a 2-0 win over Tottenham. Since then, he has made four additional appearances in the Carabao Cup and UEFA Conference League, delivering solid performances in recent victories over FC Astana and Shamrock Rovers.
Maresca’s decision to promote Acheampong was influenced by Chelsea’s defensive injury crisis. Wesley Fofana is out for the season with a hamstring injury, and Benoit Badiashile remains sidelined until February. Despite experienced options like Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Axel Disasi on the bench, Maresca entrusted the young right-back with a starting role.
Acheampong’s Premier League debut comes shortly after he signed a new contract, committing his future to Chelsea until 2029. The extension also ended a brief period of ineligibility for senior and youth matches during contract negotiations.
The new deal thwarted interest from Liverpool and Real Madrid, both of whom were monitoring the highly-rated defender.
