Chelsea’s 18-year-old right-back, Josh Acheampong, made his first Premier League start in the Blues’ 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
With Chelsea winless in their last three league matches, head coach Enzo Maresca opted for a youthful backline, handing the Cobham academy graduate a surprise start.
Acheampong lined up alongside Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella in defense, marking a significant milestone in his budding career. His inclusion follows his senior debut last season as a substitute in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Tottenham. Since then, he has made four additional appearances across the Carabao Cup and UEFA Conference League.
The teenager’s debut comes amid Chelsea’s injury crisis in defense, with Wesley Fofana ruled out for the season due to a hamstring injury and Benoit Badiashile sidelined until February. Despite having experienced defenders like Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi, Reece James, and Renato Veiga on the bench, Maresca placed his faith in Acheampong.
Acheampong’s full Premier League debut comes just weeks after he signed a new contract with Chelsea, extending his stay at the club until 2029. The deal ended a brief period of uncertainty during which he was sidelined from both senior and youth matches. Despite interest from Liverpool and Real Madrid, the highly-rated right-back chose to remain at Stamford Bridge.
This season, Acheampong has played pivotal roles in Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League victories over FC Astana and Shamrock Rovers, as well as coming off the bench in their 5-0 Carabao Cup demolition of Barrow.
