Cole Palmer is relaxed, unfazed, and full of dry humour as he joins up with the England squad for their warm-weather training camp in Girona. Uninterested in golf despite staying at a luxury resort expected to host the 2031 Ryder Cup, and indifferent to Formula One after falling asleep at a recent race, Palmer brings a laid-back but steely mindset to his national team duties.
The Chelsea attacker cuts a unique figure cool, deadpan, and refreshingly honest. Asked about life in London, he casually shrugs off any sense of comfort. “They’re all still moody,” he says of southerners. “I think because it’s so busy, they’re all stressed.” Still firmly Mancunian at heart, Palmer seems unmoved by celebrity or status, preferring PlayStation and FIFA over the high life.
That quiet nonchalance masks a clear ambition. After helping Chelsea secure Champions League qualification with a strong finish to the season capped by a win at Nottingham Forest Palmer is focused on cementing his place in the England team. The club’s form had come under scrutiny earlier in the season, but their late surge silenced doubters. “It was a relief,” Palmer admits.
Despite having a Champions League winner’s medal from his time at Manchester City, Palmer doesn’t consider himself a true winner of the competition. He didn’t play a minute in the knockout rounds, and only started once in the group stage. “It doesn’t really mean anything to me,” he says plainly. “Yeah, I’ve got the medal, but it’s not like I feel I’ve won it.”
That honesty extends to his own form. A long goal drought in the second half of the season 18 games without scoring tested him. But rather than panic, he sought advice, kept perspective, and worked through it. “When I get out of it, I’ll be an even better player,” he recalls being told. He eventually ended the dry spell with a penalty against Liverpool and finished the season with 15 goals and 12 assists in all competitions.
Palmer’s growth was on full display in the Conference League final, where Chelsea trailed Real Betis 1-0 before he sparked a comeback with two assists in a 4-1 victory. “I was sick of going backwards and sideways,” he says. So, he trusted his instincts and drove the team forward.
He also left a mark on England’s run to the Euro 2024 final, scoring a vital equaliser off the bench against Spain. Though England eventually lost 2-1, it was a defining moment that showed his ability to perform under pressure. He now has 11 international caps, with only four starts, but is pushing hard to earn a more regular role especially with Phil Foden sidelined by injury.
Palmer’s versatility is a strength, having played wide last season and more centrally this time. Asked about his preferred role, he simply says, “Wherever he [Tuchel] puts me, I’ll play.”
That balance of calm temperament and fierce competitive fire defines Palmer’s approach. He may be laid-back off the pitch, a product of his father’s influence, but when the whistle blows, he’s locked in a player who shrugs at the hype but never hides from the moment.
