English-born Ghanaian youngster, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has committed his future to Crystal Palace on Monday after signing his professional contract.

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi was named in Crystal Palace's first-team squad for the first time against Chelsea on Saturday.

The Palace youngster whose contract was to expire in the summer was an unused substitute as his side were humbled 4-1 by his former team Chelsea.

Rak-Sakyi joined Palace in 2019 from Chelsea and worked his way to being a regular for the Under-18 side in 2020/21, during which time he began to earn minutes with the Under-23s for his performances.

A talented attacking wideman who previously represented Chelsea, Rak-Sakyi was called-up to the Eagles' first-team squad against Chelsea in April 2021.

The 18-year-old whizkid is highly-rated by talent spotters and regarded as the brightest prospect to emerge in Palace’s academy since Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who sealed a £50m move to Manchester United in 2019 after playing 46 first-team games under Roy Hodgson.

Rak-Sakyi has scouts from a number of clubs on alert after turning in a string of impressive performances in the Eagles’ U18 and U23 squads, where he has excelled in an attacking midfielder role as well as on the wing scoring seven goals in eight appearances.

Boss Roy Hodgson talked up the teenager on Friday and said: “We believe at Crystal Palace that he has a big future and that he will get better and better.”

A day later he included Rak-Sakyi on the bench for the clash with Chelsea, a club where the 18-year-old spent time before he moved to Selhurst Park in 2019 after he failed to be offered a scholarship by the Blues.

Chairman Steve Parish told the official club website: “I’m delighted for Jesurun and his family and signing his first pro contract is something to be celebrated. His recent performances really have been impressive.

“Jesurun has already had the opportunity to train regularly with the first-team, even securing a spot on the bench in our Premier League squad, and I sincerely hope that today’s news is one of many exciting milestones for Jesurun at Crystal Palace.”

Rak-Sakyi, who is the fifth under-18 player at the club to sign professional terms this campaign, added: “It’s a very big moment in my life.

“Something I have been working towards since I started playing football and I’m happy and grateful that I’ve come this far. I just want to keep pushing on.”