Who is Cole Palmer?
English professional football player Cole Palmer was born on May 6, 2002. He plays for Chelsea of the Premier League and the England national team as an attacking midfielder or winger. He is thought to be among the world’s top attacking midfielders.
Cole Palmer, who came via Manchester City’s academy, made his senior debut in 2020 and later played for the team that won the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League in 2023. He signed a contract worth £40 million to join Chelsea that year, and he had a fantastic debut season, winning several accolades, including Young Player of the Year and PFA Fans’ Player of the Year.
Palmer was chosen man of the match in both finals and won the Golden Ball in the FIFA Club World Cup, which Chelsea won in 2025 along with the UEFA Conference League.
Prior to making his professional debut that same year, Palmer had competed for England at several junior levels, including winning the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He scored the equalizing goal in the final while playing for his nation at UEFA Euro 2024.
Cole Palmer’s Early Life
On May 6, 2002, Cole Palmer was born in Wythenshawe, Manchester. His mother, a dyslexia examiner, and father, a dental engineer, reared him and his sister. Palmer frequently observed his father, who played Sunday league football for over twenty years. He began playing football in his hometown grassroots team, NJ Wythenshawe, while growing up in Wythenshawe.
Palmer went to Stockport’s Gatley Primary School before receiving a private education at St. Bede’s College, which was affiliated with the Manchester City Academy.
Club Career
Manchester City
Cole Palmer joined Manchester City at the under-eight level in 2010 and advanced through the Academy age groups before leading the under-18 team in the 2019–20 season, despite being a Manchester United supporter. Academy instructors wanted to release him at 16, but academy director Jason Wilcox opposed their decision. Since the age of 14, he had been worried that his physique was too small for professional football.
He made his first-team debut for City on September 30, 2020, when they defeated Burnley 3-0 on the road in the EFL Cup’s fourth round. In a 6-1 victory over League One team Wycombe Wanderers at home in the third round of the EFL Cup on September 21, 2021, he scored his first goal.
Palmer played for City’s under-23 team on October 16 and scored a hat-trick in their Premier League match against Burnley. Palmer’s first goal in European football came on October 19, when he scored as a substitute in a 5-1 away victory over Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Palmer scored in a 4-1 away victory over League Two team Swindon Town on January 7, 2022, marking his FA Cup debut.
Although he still regularly appeared as a substitute, Palmer’s involvement rose during the 2022–2023 season. His 14 Premier League games, however, helped Manchester City win the championship and win the league. He scored the team’s fifth goal in a resounding victory over Burnley in the FA Cup quarterfinals on March 18, 2023. Cole Palmer also played four games as City won the Champions League.
After replacing Erling Haaland in the second half of the 2023 FA Community Shield match against Arsenal on August 6, 2023, Cole Palmer scored the game’s first goal. But Arsenal won the game in a penalty shootout after scoring in stoppage time. Ten days later, in what would be his final game for the team, Palmer equalized in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup encounter against Sevilla, which Manchester City won 5–4 in a penalty shootout after the game ended 1–1.
Chelsea
Cole Palmer signed a seven-year contract with a one-year option with Premier League team Chelsea on September 1. According to reports, the initial transfer cost was £40 million, with the possibility of a further £2.5 million. The next day, he made his debut as a substitute in the 62nd minute of a 1-0 loss against Nottingham Forest at home. In a 4-1 victory over Burnley on the road on October 7, Cole Palmer assisted Nicolas Jackson’s goal and scored his first goal for Chelsea from a penalty kick. Palmer scored a goal and provided an assist in a 4-1 victory over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on November 6. The two clubs drew 4–4 at Stamford Bridge six days later, with Palmer scoring a penalty in stoppage time against his old team, Manchester City.
Palmer helped Chelsea become the first side to win all four major European titles by contributing two assists in the 2025 UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis, earning him the title of player of the match on May 28, 2025. Palmer was one of six nominees for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, which was revealed on June 20. Later that year, on July 13, he was named player of the match after scoring twice and dishing up an assist in a 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final. With three goals and two assists at the end of the tournament, he was named the Golden Ball winner for best player.
International Career
Cole Palmer participated in the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship as a member of the England national under-17 squad.
He was called up to the England under-21 team for the first time on August 27, 2021. On his debut, he scored in a 2-0 victory over Kosovo to qualify for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Later, he was added to the England squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2023, where he started in the Young Lions’ victory.
In the quarterfinal match against Switzerland, Palmer replaced Ezri Konsa in the 78th minute and scored the opening kick in England’s 5–3 penalty shootout victory. In the semi-final match against the Netherlands on July 10, Palmer came off the bench with Ollie Watkins in the 81st minute to help the latter score the game-winning goal in the 90th minute, advancing England to their second straight Euro final and their first-ever final played abroad. Four days later, on July 14, Palmer scored England’s equalizer from beyond the box three minutes after coming off the bench in the 70th minute of the final against Spain. But Spain ended up winning the game 2-1.
Palmer was announced as the 2023–24 England Men’s Player of the Year on October 8, 2024.
Cole Palmer’s Personal Life
Cole Palmer comes from his father’s side of the family, which is Afro-Kittitian. His great-grandparents were among the Windrush generation, having migrated five years prior, and his grandfather, Sterry (born 1953), left the country in 1960 at the age of six. The flags of Saint Kitts & Nevis and England were embroidered on Palmer’s boots.
Style of Play
He’s a playmaker who can play as a winger on either flank but primarily plays as an attacking midfielder in the number 10 position. In addition to producing and scoring goals, he is renowned for his performance and mindset at penalties, passing, and dribbling. He also frequently makes cuts inside the opposition line and tries long-range shots. He is primarily left-footed, but he can also use his right foot. Media outlets have regularly referred to him as one of the top attacking midfielders in international football.
Cole Palmer Trademark
Palmer was referred to as a “matador showing his shoulder” by former Bristol City and Sunderland manager Lee Johnson, who also commended his technical skill. Palmer was known as “Cold Palmer” because of his composure on the field, particularly while he was taking penalties. In response, he celebrated goals with his arms crossed and hands massaging his shoulders, a gesture he has credited to Morgan Rogers, a former Manchester City player. The media has also commended Palmer for his efforts in important games, especially cup finals, which he has admitted he likes.
Faith
Cole Palmer is a Christian. The public is unaware of Cole Palmer’s religious views. His report mentions his Afro-Kittitian heritage, but it makes no mention of his religious beliefs. Wikipedia states that the word “palmer” was used in the Middle Ages to describe Christian pilgrims who went to the Holy Land, although this has nothing to do with Cole Palmer’s personal beliefs.
Cole Palmer Net Worth
Cole Palmer agreed to a seven-year contract with Chelsea that included a weekly income of £75,000 and an average yearly salary of £3,900,000.
Honours
Manchester City
- Premier League: 2022–23
- FA Cup: 2022–23
- UEFA Champions League: 2022–23
- UEFA Super Cup: 2023
Chelsea
- UEFA Conference League: 2024–25
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2025
England U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2023
England
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2024
Individual
- England’s Men’s Player of the Year: 2023–24
- London Football Awards Men’s Young Player of the Year: 2024
- London Football Awards Premier League Player of the Year: 2025
- London Football Awards Goal of the season: 2025
- Chelsea Player of the Season: 2023–24
- Chelsea Player’s Player of the Season: 2023–24
- Premier League Player of the Month: April 2024, September 2024
- Premier League Goal of the Month: April 2024, August 2024
- Premier League Young Player of the Season: 2023–24
- PFA Fans’ Player of the Year: 2023–24
- PFA Young Player of the Year: 2023–24
- The Athletic Premier League Insiders Signing of the Season: 2023–24
- The Athletic Premier League Young Player of the Season: 2023–24
- The Athletic Premier League Team of the Season: 2023–24
- Premier League Game Changer of the Season: 2023–24
- Fantasy Premier League Team of the Season: 2023–24
- UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season: 2024–25
- EA Sports FC Premier League Team of the Season: 2024–25
- FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2025
- FIFA Club World Cup Team of the Tournament: 2025
