- Crystal Palace could lose Mofe Jemide
- Young defender is considering his options
- Chelsea previously tried signing him
Crystal Palace defender Mofe Jemide could reportedly leave this summer amid interest from European clubs. The highly-rated centre-back has been a regular at U21 level this season.
Jemide has appeared 18 times across competitions at youth level and that includes 12 outings in Premier League 2. He’s yet to make his first-team debut and that may be the thinking behind considering a loan.
Palace turned down an approach from Chelsea back in September and seemed eager to keep him at Selhurst Park. But he is eagerly awaiting his chance in the senior setup.
Crystal Palace Face Fight to Keep Jemide
Standard Sport reports that Jemide is “assessing his options ahead of a potential move this summer.” There is interest from Eredivisie outfit PSV Eindhoven, La Liga clubs Alaves and Celta Vigo, and he could either leave on loan or permanently.
That depends on discussions between the English teenager and the South Londoners over his chances of first-team football next season. This won’t include Oliver Glasner, who will leave his role as manager in June, with reports suggesting Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola is the club’s desired replacement.
Jemide is one of two Palace youngsters whose futures are uncertain ahead of the summer transfer window. English forward Jemiah Umolu is expected to be on his way after having a loan spell at EFL League Two outfit Bromley cut short in January.
Palace Snubbed Chelsea Approach
There are certainly high expectations of Jemide and his displays at youth level haven’t gone unnoticed. The Palace Way reported last September that Chelsea made an approach to sign him permanently but were turned away.
The Eagles weren’t willing to allow another youth prospect to head to Stamford Bridge. They lost Jesse Derry and Reggie Watson to the Blues in 2024.
Chelsea can’t come back in for him this summer due to a ban restricting them from signing academy players from Premier League clubs over the next nine months.
That said, if he has doubts continuing at Palace because of a lack of first-team opportunities, he’d have little chance of breaking into the west Londoners’ team.
Jemide was back in the U21’s starting lineup last week in a 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest. He played at right-back and made his first appearance for two months after a spell on the sidelines.
