Corey Blackett-Taylor

Corey Josiah Paul Blackett-Taylor (born 23 September 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays for club Derby County.

Blackett-Taylor started his career at Aston Villa where he graduated into the first team making his debut in March 2017. In March 2019, he would join Walsall on loan. In June 2019 after he released by Villa, Blackett-Taylor signed with Tranmere Rovers, before joining Charlton Athletic in January 2022. In January 2024, he joined Derby County loan, a move which became permanent on 1 July 2024. In January 2026, Blackett-Taylor joined Bolton Wanderers on loan.

He has represented England at Under-19 level.

Career Aston Villa Blackett-Taylor joined Aston Villa and worked his way up through the team's academy age groups. In the 2015–16 season he scored five goals in his opening nine matches for the Villa Under-18s side and was later selected for the annual international seven-a-side tournament, the Hong Kong Soccer Sevens, which Villa won for the record sixth time.

Blackett-Taylor was named on the bench for a league match the first time on 7 March 2017 and replaced Neil Taylor to make his debut in the 87th minute in a 1–0 loss to Huddersfield Town. Blackett-Taylor made his second and final appearance for Villa in a 2–0 EFL Cup loss to Middlesbrough in September 2017. In April 2018, Aston Villa announced a one-year contract extension for Blackett-Taylor. Blackett-Taylor left Villa upon the expiry of his contract in June 2019.

Walsall (loan) On 31 January 2019, Blackett-Taylor was loaned out to Walsall, of League One until the end of the 2018–19 season. Blackett-Taylor would make 10 appearances during his spell at Walsall. He made his debut on 17 September 2019, in a 2–2 home draw against Peterborough United. Blackett-Taylor scored his first professional goal on 13 October 2019, a late winner in a 1–0 away victory over Coventry City. Blackett-Taylor would score five goals and create six assists in the 2019–20 season, as Tranmere were relegated to League Two.

Charlton Athletic On 20 August 2021, Blackett-Taylor joined Charlton Athletic on a short-term deal until January 2022. He scored his first goal for Charlton in a 6–1 EFL Trophy tie victory against Crawley Town on 31 August 2021. On 18 November 2021, it was announced that Blackett-Taylor had signed an extension to his contract at Charlton Athletic until at least 2023. In his first season at Charlton, Blackett-Taylor scored three goals.

In the 2022–23 season, Blackett-Taylor again became a mainstay in the Charlton side and increased his goal output with scoring eight goals and making three assists in 35 appearances,

In the 2023–24 season, Blackett-Taylor had a productive season scoring nine goals and creating seven assists in 28 appearances across all competitions. `

Derby County (loan) In January 2024, Charlton rejected a transfer bid for Blackett-Taylor, believed to be from fellow League One club Derby County. On 19 January 2024, it was reported that an improved bid by Derby was accepted by Charlton.

On 22 January 2024, Blackett-Taylor joined Derby County until the end of the season ahead of signing for the club on a permanent basis in the summer, on a contract until June 2027. Blackett-Taylor struggled to break into the Derby team; missing an open goal in a 0–0 draw at Wycombe Wanderers on 10 April 2024. He made 12 appearances for Derby during the 2023–24 season as they gained promotion to the Championship as runners-up, though Blackett-Taylor himself did little to contribute to this.

Derby County After Blackett-Taylor's loan finished and he signed permanently for Derby on 1 July 2024. Blackett-Taylor sustained an injury in pre-season which ruled him out for first month of the season; upon his return he found it hard to break into the matchday squad. Blackett-Taylor would score his first goal in Derby's 3–2 loss to Norwich City on 28 September 2024. Blackett-Taylor sustained a hamstring injury against Cardiff City on 25 January 2025. He returned to fitness in April 2025. Blackett-Taylor made 13 appearances, scoring once during the 2024–25 season.

Ahead of the 2025–26 season Blackett-Taylor hit impressive form during pre-season, scoring in each of Derby's five pre-season friendlies. Blackett-Taylor started Derby first game of the season against Stoke City and provided the assist to Derby's only goal of the match scored by Carlton Morris, however in the same game he was forced off the pitch with a hamstring injury which after tests was confirmed would leave him out of action for six weeks. He returned to first team action after two months and played 10 times for the first team during the season.

Bolton Wanderers (loan) On 27 January 2026, Blackett-Taylor joined League One side Bolton Wanderers on loan until the end of the season. On 31 January 2026, Blackett-Taylor scored on his Bolton debut, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win at AFC Wimbledon. On 14 March 2026, Blackett-Taylor sustained a thigh injury in Bolton's match at Rotherham United, results from a scan after this match were described as "serious" and Blackett-Taylor returned to Derby for rehabilitation after scoring twice from seven appearances at Bolton Wanderers. Bolton won promotion to the Championship at the end of the season via the play-offs.

Personal life Blackett-Taylor attended Handsworth Grammar School and donated both an England and Aston Villa shirt to the school having signed his first professional contract with Villa in 2016. His older brother, Daryl Taylor, is a former professional footballer and strength coach.

Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

2016–17 Championship

2017–18 Championship

2018–19 Championship

1!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!2!!0 Walsall (loan) 2018–19 League One

2020–21 League Two

44!!3!!9!!3!!2!!0!!7!!2!!62!!8

2021–22 League One

2022–23 League One

2023–24 League One

81!!18!!6!!0!!3!!0!!7!!2!!97!!20 Derby County (loan) 2023–24 Championship

2025–26 Championship

2026–27 Championship

36!!1!!2!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!39!!1 Bolton Wanderers (loan) 2025–26

Tranmere Rovers EFL Trophy runner-up: 2020–21

Derby County EFL League One second-place promotion: 2023–24