Chelsea game halted after sickening clash of heads as Jesse Derry taken off with stretcher

Chelsea’s home game against Nottingham Forest came to an abrupt and concerning halt in the 45th minute on Monday.

With the Blues on the attack, 18-year-old Jesse Derry, who was making his Premier League debut under Calum McFarlane, leapt up for the ball in the penalty box after it initially rebounded off his shoulder.

Forest defender Zach Abbott, 19, then jumped up to challenge him, with the two colliding heads. Both players immediately fell to the turf.

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After pointing straight to the penalty spot, the referee quickly waved over medical staff, just as players also did. While Abbott was swiftly substituted for Nico Williams under the concussion protocol, Derry remained on the floor as medical staff crowded around him, working to get him onto a stretcher.

The youngster was ultimately stretchered off in the 54th minute, as applause rang out from around Stamford Bridge. Following the game, Chelsea posted on social media, "Jesse Derry has been taken to hospital as a precaution following his first-half substitution during today’s #PL game against Nottingham Forest.

"Jesse is conscious, talking and undergoing precautionary checks. We wish him a speedy recovery and thank the medical staff for their swift response."

Derry, who joined the Blues in the summer of 2025 from Crystal Palace, was brought in as a result of both Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto having suffered knocks, as per football.london. Before kick off, McFarlane told Sky Sports, "It’s a great opportunity for Jesse, he’s trained with us a lot.

"He’s been in squads and played in other games. We trust him and we know his talent. I’ve worked with him previously. The boys trust him and he’s trained really well. Really excited for Jesse."

The left winger had made two appearances off the bench in the FA Cup earlier this season, but had yet to appear in the Premier League prior to Monday. He has, however, been a regular for Chelsea's Under-21s, scoring seven goals and adding four assists in 21 appearances across all competitions, along with five goals in eight games for the Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League.

Replaced by Liam Delap, Cole Palmer subsequently stepped up to take the penalty, which was saved by Matz Sels to maintain Forest’s 2-0 lead - courtesy of an early opener from Taiwo Awoniyi followed by an Igor Jesus penalty. After five added minutes, Vitor Pereira’s side continued to keep Chelsea at bay, going into the break with a commanding lead.

Unfortunately, 15 minutes into the second half, play had to be suddenly stopped yet again after Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez dove to punch away an incoming ball, colliding heads with Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White. This came around eight minutes after Awoniyi had extended Forest's lead.

Both players were immediately tended to as the game was halted for around six minutes, with the stretcher brought out again. Thankfully, while both players required bandages around their heads and had to be taken off, both were able to leave the game under their own power, with Chris Wood coming on for the visitors and Filip Jörgensen for the hosts.

Relegation threatened Forest entered the game 16th in the Premier League on 39 points, just two above Tottenham Hotspur and three clear of West Ham United in the third and final relegation spot.

Their 3-1 win, with João Pedro's stunning added-time bicycle kick proving little more than a consolation goal for the Blues, sees Forest close the gap on both Leeds United and Crystal Palace above them to just one point, with just three league games remaining.

As for the hosts, in their first game since Liam Rosenior was fired after just under four months in charge, having replaced Enzo Maresca in January, they remain ninth, two points below Brighton and Hove Albion and three behind Brentford in the final European qualification spot for the UEFA Conference League.