Blues sign up teenage Rams star

DERBY County have confirmed that teenager Dylan Williams has signed for reigning European champions Chelsea.

The left-back announced on Instagram that he had joined the Blues over the weekend after Wayne Rooney revealed the Rams had accepted a bid for the teenager.

The fee has remained undisclosed, but the two clubs have reached an agreement rather than let the sum be settled by a tribunal, with Williams’ deal at Pride Park set to expire in the summer.

Speaking of his decision to join Chelsea, Williams said: “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 @dcfcofficial. I cannot wait to get started @chelseafc.”

Rooney admitted that he could not stand in the way of Williams, who has made eight first-team appearances for the Rams this season.

The likelihood is that he will join up with the Blues’ under-23s rather than join Thomas Tuchel’s firstteam set-up.

Rooney said: “We have agreed on a fee with a Premier League club, still getting finalised as we speak, for Dylan Williams.

“It is one where I felt I couldn’t deny him the opportunity, so that is my decision, not an administrator’s decision.

“It was my decision after speaking to the player.

“I felt I couldn’t deny a young lad an opportunity of going to play in the Premier League.

Louie Sibley was among some Rams players to congratulate the full-back on his move.

Replying to Williams’ Instagram post, he wrote: “All the best mate”.

Williams joined the Rams back in 2020 having moved up the youth ranks at Wolves, but he was almost immediately thrown in at the deep end when a Covid crisis within Rooney’s squad meant he had to feature in an FA Cup clash with Chorley.