Chelsea have completed the signing of 18-year-old left-back Dylan Williams from Derby County for an undisclosed fee.
Williams made a total of nine first-team appearances for the Rams having played for the first time in their FA Cup defeat to Chorley last season.
He is Chelsea’s first signing of the January transfer window with Derby boss Wayne Rooney saying on Friday that he ‘couldn’t stand in the way of his opportunity.’
Dylan Williams, the 18-year-old left-back, has joined Chelsea from Derby County
Williams posted Instagram pictures with his family after completing his move to Chelsea
Williams, who made the step up to first-team football at the stricken Championship club at the beginning of the season, posted a picture of himself signing his Chelsea deal on his Instagram account.
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He wrote: ‘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.’
Williams has made nine first-team appearances in total for the Rams this season and last
Derby manager Wayne Rooney admitted he ‘couldn’t stand in the way of Williams’ opportunity’
The transfer fee has not yet been confirmed by Derby’s administrators Quantuma but will provide a welcome boost to the coffers with the club in a dire financial situation.
They need to inform the EFL by next week how they intend to find the £5million needed to keep the club running for the remainder of the season, or face possible liquidation.
Williams is the fifth player to leave Derby this month after David Marshall, Phil Jagielka, Graeme Shinnie and Sam Baldock.
The Rams, who lost 2-1 to rivals Nottingham Forest on Saturday, are 23rd in the Championship table and eight points from safety following their 21-point deduction earlier this season.