The confirmed Chelsea team news for this afternoon’s home clash with Nottingham Forest as interim head coach Calum McFarlane makes
Calum McFarlane has handed Chelsea academy star Jesse Derry his full senior debut in this afternoon’s Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest.
Derry starts on the left-hand side with no sign of Pedro Neto or Alejandro Garnacho in the squad. It is just the 18-year-old’s third senior appearance for the Blues since signing from Crystal Palace last summer.
Tosin Adarabioyo keeps his place at the heart of the Chelsea defence, with the experienced centre-back starting alongside Trevoh Chalobah yet again. Malo Gusto continues on the right-hand side with Marc Cucurella on the opposite flank.
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Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo form the Chelsea midfield with Enzo Fernandez sitting just in front of the duo. Cole Palmer starts on the right-hand side, with Derry on the left and Joao Pedro leading the line at Stamford Bridge.
In a big boost for McFarlane and Chelsea, captain Reece James is back with the squad after a hamstring injury. Long-term absentee Levi Colwill is also among the substitutes after recovering from a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he suffered back in August 2025.
As for Forest, they rest key players Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Chris Wood, Nikola Milenkovic and Omari Hutchinson, with all them starting on the bench in west London.
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Palmer, Fernandez, Derry; Joao Pedro
