Chelsea's youth academy product, 18-year-old Acheampong, makes his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace.
Chelsea traveled to Selhurst Park in desperate need of a victory after a three-match winless streak, which included two defeats. Enzo Maresca has chosen a youthful defense for the London derby, with 18-year-old Acheampong making a surprising start. The right-back will partner with Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella in what is his first-ever Premier League start for Chelsea .
Cobham academy graduate Acheampong made his senior debut for the club last season as a substitute in their 2-0 win over Tottenham. Maresca's decision comes after he revealed that center-back Wesley Fofana could miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury. 'We don't know exactly for the entire season, but for sure he could be out for part of it.' Benoit Badiashile is also expected to be sidelined until February due to an injury sustained last month. Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi are two center-backs named on the bench, along with fellow defenders Reece James and Renato Veiga. Acheampong's full Premier League debut arrives less than a month after he signed a new contract at Chelsea until 2029. The agreement followed a period where the teenager was ineligible to play for either the senior or youth teams until he penned the new deal. Liverpool and Real Madrid expressed interest in the highly-rated right-back, but he has stayed at Chelsea. Acheampong played the full duration of the Conference League wins over FC Astana and Shamrock Rovers in December. He also came off the bench in their 5-0 Carabao Cup victory over Barrow, with Maresca now entrusting him in the Premier League
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