Football talent gets snapped up by Premier League giants

A footballing ‘wonderkid’ enrolled on Loughborough College’s football academy has signed for Premier League giants Chelsea.

Dylan Williams, 18, is currently studying a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport at college and is working towards a D*D* as part of the College’s academy partnership with Dylan’s former club Derby County.

The promising left back, gifted with pace and loves to get forward, was signed as part of Chelsea’s long-term plan to bring in so-called ‘wonderkids’ and develop them for the first team.

Dylan said on his Instagram account: "Wow. I am absolutely delighted to have signed for one of the biggest clubs in the world. Thank you so much for everything the staff and players have done at Derby County. I cannot wait to get started at Chelsea."

The transfer completes a remarkable rise for the teenager, who only made his debut for the Rams in 2021 aged 16 in a FA Cup tie against Chorley.

Since then, he has earned rave reviews from writers and fans when he has appeared in Derby’s first team.

Kay Noble, Deputy Manager in the College’s elite sport development team, said: “We’re thrilled for Dylan. To be joining one of the biggest clubs in Europe must be a dream come true and a great opportunity for Dylan to continue pursuing his professional football career.”

Loughborough College works with a number of football club academies including Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Derby County to support the academic development of talented young footballers.

Header Image: "Chelsea Football Club" by Brent Flanders is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0