Cole Palmer has openly confessed to his initial uncertainty regarding his departure from Manchester City to Chelsea during the summer. However, the irresistible prospect of securing a regular spot in the first-team lineup ultimately swayed the 21-year-old’s decision.
Completing the move from Manchester to London on transfer deadline day, Palmer committed to a substantial seven-year contract with Chelsea, a deal that holds the potential to reach £42.5 million with future add-ons and bonus payments.
Palmer wasted no time in making an impact at Chelsea, showcasing his abilities by scoring four goals in just nine appearances in the Premier League. Notably, he displayed remarkable composure by netting the equalizing goal against his former team in the captivating 4-4 draw on Sunday.
His consistently impressive performances earned him a well-deserved call-up to England’s senior squad for the November Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. With England already securing qualification for next year’s tournament, there is a strong likelihood that manager Gareth Southgate will provide Palmer with valuable playing time.
In a reflection shared with Sky Sports about his move during the summer, Palmer candidly admitted to his initial uncertainties, especially considering he had never experienced a loan spell. After deliberating for a couple of days, he came to the realization that the move to Chelsea was likely the best decision for his long-term career development.
He said of the decision to go: “You know how good a manager Pep [Guardiola] is and he gave me the opportunity and the platform to kick-start my career, so I’ll always be grateful to him.
“Who knows what would have happened had I stayed… maybe I would have played more, maybe not. But the decision to move to Chelsea, so far, is paying off.
“It was a really tough decision, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. But with the competition that’s there, the players they have and those they were going to sign, I made my choice.
“I was speaking to people at Chelsea, and I spoke to my dad, but I really didn’t know what to do. I was thinking about it for a couple of days, near enough every minute of the day. In the end, I felt that for my career I had to leave to get regular game time.
“It was a big move for me as I’d never been out of Manchester. I hadn’t been on loan or anything like that, so to move down here on my own was a big thing. When I arrived, it was difficult as I was staying in a hotel, but I’ve now settled in.”
Palmer added that earning a call-up into England’s squad wasn’t at the forefront of his mind when weighing up whether to move, but he did want to give himself the best opportunity to impress week in and week out.
“[Making the England squad] wasn’t a big part of it. I wasn’t even thinking about an England call-up when I first went to Chelsea. I just wanted more of an opportunity to prove myself. Getting called up is just a bonus.
“I got the news straight after the match [against Manchester City]. My phone was going crazy because I’ve got some City fans who are mates and family.
“So, I read it… and then I read it again when it was confirmed. I rang my dad straightaway, and he was with my mum. I told them first.”
