Cole Palmer’s meteoric rise at Chelsea has made him one of the most exciting young talents.
The 22-year-old forward, who joined the Blues from Manchester City in 2023 for £40 million, has thrived since his move, showcasing remarkable form that few could have predicted.
After struggling for regular minutes at City, Palmer signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
He later extended his deal, tying him to Chelsea for the foreseeable future. However, former Chelsea defender William Gallas believes that despite his long-term commitment, only two clubs—Real Madrid and Barcelona—could entice Palmer to leave the west London club.
“Right now, I think only Real Madrid and Barcelona could tempt Cole Palmer away from Chelsea,” said Gallas, who made 225 appearances for the Blues. “He would thrive in Spain, though hopefully Chelsea fans won’t need to worry about that for at least a few more years.”
Palmer’s stats underscore his immense impact. He ended his debut season at Chelsea with a stunning 27 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, the most goal involvements of any player in the Premier League.
While the Blues have become less dependent on him this season, his contributions remain vital, tallying 17 goal involvements in 16 league matches.
Under manager Enzo Maresca, who joined Chelsea from Leicester City in the summer, Palmer has been instrumental in helping the Blues emerge as unexpected title challengers.
Chelsea sit just two points behind leaders Liverpool, having lost only twice in the league this season.
Despite their strong form, Maresca has downplayed talk of a title push. “It’s not about how many games we win; it’s about being realistic,” he said after their 2-1 victory over Brentford. “We still have areas to improve, but we deserved this win.”
For now, Chelsea fans can enjoy watching Palmer light up the Premier League. But with his exceptional performances attracting global attention, they’ll hope the allure of Spain’s giants remains distant for years to come.