Cole Palmer's Immediate Impact at Chelsea

When Fabrizio Romano mentioned a ‘mystery attacker’ was heading to Chelsea this summer, many fans were at a loss. The Blues don’t tend to do their business in private. The mystery deepened further when it was revealed that 21-year-old Cole Palmer, a player with just a handful of senior appearances to his name, was the man to fill Chelsea’s creative void. And yet, just three months after leaving Manchester for West London in a £40 million deadline day move, no one is under any allusions as to how good Palmer can be.

A product of Manchester City’s famed academy, Palmer made his first team debut as a fresh-faced 18-year-old away to Burnley in the Carabao Cup. A year later he’d play the Clarets again before netting a hat-trick for City’s U-23s just a few hours apart. Pep Guardiola quickly identified Palmer’s ‘special quality in front of the box.’ 

The Englishman would go on to notch goals in the Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield, and the Super Cup in sky blue. ‘Prem soon come,’ Palmer quipped after opening his account for City in the FA Cup. But goals in English football's premier competition would elude the youngster until this season. 

Despite his age, Palmer is bringing a much-needed maturity to Chelsea’s squad. Three from three from the penalty spot going into the match against Manchester City singled out the deadline-day acquisition as someone willing to take responsibility in a squad of players trying to find themselves on and off the pitch. Palmer is revelling in his starring role and has sights firmly fixed on making his mark on the international stage.