Report: Chelsea’s Young Star Surpassing Expectations | OneFootball

Cole Palmer: Chelsea’s New Prodigy—How Did He Rise So Fast?

In the midst of Chelsea’s tumultuous 2023-24 Premier League season, one name has risen above the din: Cole Palmer. Signed from Manchester City for a hefty £42.5 million fee, few expected Palmer to make an immediate impact. Yet, here we are—just over a year later, and the young Englishman is being heralded as one of the finest attackers in the Premier League. Palmer’s journey from a slight teenager struggling through Manchester City’s academy to a Chelsea star is an intriguing tale of resilience, talent, and perfect timing.

From City’s Academy to Chelsea’s Star

Cole Palmer’s footballing journey began at Manchester City’s academy, where he joined at the tender age of nine. Early observers, such as former City head of academy coaching Scott Sellars, noted Palmer’s natural technical ability even at that young age. “He never looked flustered and always looked like he had answers,” Sellars told The Athletic. “He had a great way of dropping his shoulder and going past people.”

Palmer’s diminutive stature during his formative years in City’s academy proved to be a hurdle. While he dazzled with his technical skills, his lack of physical presence made him less dominant than some of his peers. As Kevin Betsy, former England Under-15 coach, recalls, “He was probably the smallest player on the pitch,” but he already possessed the ability to dribble in tight spaces and make crucial combination passes. Those are the same qualities that have lit up the Premier League since Palmer’s arrival at Chelsea.

Photo: IMAGO

Despite his lack of size, Palmer was not overlooked. City, under the guidance of people like Jason Wilcox, former academy director, never doubted his potential. “He wasn’t always the standout player,” says Betsy, “but Jason was convinced that Cole would be the player that City and England believed in.”

The Physical Struggles

Palmer’s rise to the top was not without its struggles. Between the ages of 13 and 16, Palmer was often physically outmatched by his peers. As Sellars noted, “From age 13 to 16 is really difficult for the smaller, more technical players.” But Palmer remained undeterred, buoyed by the belief his family, especially his father Jermaine, had in him. Betsy also offered reassurance during Palmer’s difficult adolescent years, as his body played catch-up with his technical brilliance.

His transition to the senior level was equally delicate. Palmer’s growth spurt, which saw him shoot up to 6ft 2in, came later than most. Betsy explained that managing Palmer during international duty was tricky. “We had to manage him very delicately when he came on England camp, because he was going through a lot of growth and maturation.”

But that patience paid off. As Palmer’s body caught up with his technical skills, his influence on the pitch grew. He became a key player for City’s elite development squad and England’s Under-21s, where he contributed significantly to their qualification for the 2023 European Under-21 Championship. His composure in central areas became evident, as Sellars recalled, “He was always calm, composed, never flustered.”

A Chelsea Star is Born

Palmer’s move to Chelsea in 2023 was both a calculated risk and an opportunity for him to shine. Manchester City had rebuffed Southampton’s interest in Palmer the previous year, but Chelsea’s offer of regular first-team football and a £42.5 million transfer fee proved too enticing to pass up. Palmer’s ability to break into the first team at City had been stifled by the wealth of talent around him, and the move to Chelsea provided the minutes he craved.

Photo: IMAGO

Few could have predicted the scale of Palmer’s impact. Since making his Chelsea debut, Palmer has directly contributed to 43 goals in just 39 league appearances. His total of 28 goals and 15 assists since the start of the 2023-24 season has even outstripped Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, a player widely regarded as a generational talent. Palmer’s rapid rise has led many to wonder whether anyone expected him to be this good.

According to Sellars, Palmer’s success has always seemed likely—at least to those who worked with him closely. “I always felt in central areas he would score,” Sellars said. “It was just a case of him getting stronger.” Even Betsy, who coached Palmer during his youth international career, had no doubts about his potential. “No one has got a crystal ball in youth development,” he remarked, “but we had huge belief in Cole.”

Overcoming Doubts

Not everyone was convinced Palmer would make it at the top level. His late physical development led to internal debates at Manchester City about whether or not to offer him a professional contract. It was Wilcox, City’s academy director, who championed Palmer during these difficult times. “There were a couple of times we went to watch and Cole would be on the bench,” Betsy remembered, “but Jason was convinced that Cole would be the player they and England believed in.”

Palmer’s drastic growth spurt in his late teens validated Wilcox’s faith. Standing at 6ft 2in, Palmer now combines his touch and technical skills with the physicality required to compete in the Premier League. His impact on Chelsea has been nothing short of transformative. Palmer is not only scoring and assisting at an elite level, but his composure and intelligence on the ball have also endeared him to Chelsea fans and pundits alike.

Betsy’s assessment of Palmer’s development encapsulates his rise to the top: “It was a slow burn in terms of his progression, purely because of his physical characteristics, but that comes with time and patience.”

Palmer’s Future at Chelsea

With a contract that commits him to Chelsea until 2033, Palmer is poised to become a cornerstone of the young team developing under Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca. His rise is a testament to the belief that patience and nurturing talent can pay off handsomely in the long run.

Photo: IMAGO

Chelsea’s faith in Palmer has been repaid in spades. Despite his early struggles with physicality, Palmer’s technical ability, combined with his newly developed physique, has made him a nightmare for Premier League defenders. His ability to dribble in tight spaces, create goals, and score from almost anywhere on the pitch makes him a versatile attacker. The 43 goal involvements he has produced since his debut are just the beginning.

Palmer’s father, Jermaine, would be proud of the player his son has become. The hours spent honing his skills in the park have culminated in a player who now lights up Stamford Bridge every weekend. And for Chelsea fans, Palmer’s success is a symbol of the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent. It’s no exaggeration to say that Chelsea have found their new star.

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Chelsea supporters have witnessed their club nurture many young talents over the years, but Palmer’s story feels special. From his City academy days, many would have predicted him to be a solid player, but his breakout season has surpassed even the wildest expectations. His calmness, control, and goal-scoring abilities make him the type of player Chelsea fans can rally around.

The fact that Palmer has outperformed Erling Haaland in terms of goal involvements this season adds to the excitement. Fans are already dreaming of what the future holds—could Palmer be the next Eden Hazard or Frank Lampard for Chelsea? Could he be the player to lead Chelsea back to the top of English football?

What makes Palmer even more endearing to the Chelsea faithful is his journey. He has fought through doubts, physical challenges, and competition from some of the best players in the world to become a key player at Stamford Bridge. That kind of determination resonates with supporters. As one Chelsea fan put it after his last match, “Palmer was meant to be good, but no one thought he’d be this good.”