Cole Palmer lifts lid on Chelsea injury hell as surgery talks revealed | OneFootball

Blues star discussed going under the knife with consultants to fix groin problem

Cole Palmer was nearly forced to undergo surgery on the groin injury which plagued him throughout last season.

Chelsea’s talisman was far from his best throughout the 2025/26 campaign as he struggled to manage the issue, which limited him to just ten goals in 26 league appearances and saw him left out of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.

He is back at full bore after a restful summer, though, and featured in the Blues’ 6-4 defeat of Western Sydney Wanderers last week, assisting one of Joao Pedro’s three late goals.

Palmer has now lifted the lid on his injury hell, revealing that a rushed comeback almost saw him forced to go under the knife.

“Obviously I couldn’t play how I wanted to play. It was a bad season personally with injuries and stuff but I feel good now. The seven weeks obviously helped. I’m ready to go again.

Cole Palmer was in rare form as he met the press in Sydney

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“I went to Sweden or Denmark, one of those countries, to see a doctor. We did speak about it. But I didn't end up getting it.”

There is plenty of cause for Palmer to be optimistic heading into the new campaign, not least because Chelsea has laid out £117million to sign his close friend Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.

The pair are England team-mates and played together in Manchester City’s academy setup. Both are looking forward to being reunited in west London.

Palmer is said to have nicked his now iconic ‘cold’ celebration - which he has since legally trademarked - from Rogers, and joked he is prepared to take action if Rogers uses it this season.

“I’ve trademarked it so if he tries to do anything, he’ll have the bailiffs at his door,” he chuckled, before adding: “We've never actually spoke about it. He does it. I do it.

Cole Palmer is looking forward to having Morgan Rogers join him at Chelsea

“I always speak to him but when I heard Chelsea were trying to sign him, I was texting him even more.

“He was probably sick of me but at least he’s here now!

“Morgs told me straightaway when he was coming. It didn’t get leaked. Nobody knew. Just me and him and the higher people at the club.

“So it was a difficult secret to keep, but I kept it! Everyone knows how good he is. Obviously he’s one of my best friends so I’m very happy about it.

“We’re two different players. He’s more physical than me, on and off the ball. He likes to drive with it. I like to play passes.

“I think we can play well together, and we played together when we were young (in the academy of Manchester City).”