Cole Palmer: Chelsea striker reflects on successful move from Manchester City and sets sights on earning his first England call-up
Cole Palmer eyes England debut as Chelsea transfer pays off
Young forward Cole Palmer believes his summer move from Manchester City to Chelsea is proving to be a successful one, as he sets his sights on making his senior debut for the England national team. Since joining Stamford Bridge, the 21-year-old has already scored four goals and provided four assists in just 14 appearances.
The opportunity for Palmer arose following injuries to James Maddison, Callum Wilson, and Lewis Dunk, leading to his call-up into the England squad on Monday. Reflecting on his decision to leave treble winners Manchester City, Palmer expressed his desire for regular game time.
“The whole process happened quite quickly,” admitted Palmer. “I had discussions with someone at Chelsea and spoke it over with my dad. It was a tough decision that occupied my mind constantly for a couple of days. Ultimately, I wanted more playing opportunities.”
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino praised Palmer’s character and determination after securing the young talent’s signature in London. For Palmer himself, Pochettino played an influential role in convincing him to make such a significant move away from the club where he had spent most of his footballing career:
“Before my transfer went through,” shared Palmer, “I had an encouraging phone conversation with him [Pochettino]. People around me told me about how supportive he is towards young players. And since joining Chelsea, I’ve experienced that firsthand – enjoying our work together while eagerly looking ahead.”
Moving from Manchester City marked a major milestone for Cole Palmer who had never lived outside of Manchester before this big step in his career: “Leaving home was quite daunting initially; however now that I have settled down more comfortably here [at Stamford Bridge], I am thoroughly enjoying every moment.”
The thrilling 4-4 draw between Chelsea and Manchester City offered Palmer a chance to reunite with his former boss Pep Guardiola. After leaving the club, Palmer made his name in football by making 25 appearances for the Citizens last season, contributing significantly to their success across various competitions.
Expressing gratitude towards Guardiola, Palmer said: “Pep is an exceptional manager who opened doors of opportunity for me at Manchester City. I will always be thankful to him. However, there is no point dwelling on what could have been if I had stayed. The decision to join Chelsea has proven worthwhile so far.”
Prioritizing game time over any other possibility, Cole Palmer’s England call-up came as an unexpected bonus since joining Chelsea alongside fellow teammate Raheem Sterling:
“Raheem is an incredible player – he has been outstanding this season for us,” praised Palmer. “We have developed great chemistry due to our prior acquaintance. Honestly speaking though, when I first joined Chelsea, my only aim was more playing time. Being selected for England was just another door opening up – a chance to showcase my skills.”