Key Takeaways
- Cole Palmer says he will not leave Chelsea and has just bought a house in Surrey.
- The 23-year-old hopes to earn a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad.
- Palmer and Reece James have told the club which signings are needed to fight for trophies next season.
Cole Palmer has ended talk of a return to Manchester by insisting he is “happy in London” and has “no plans” to quit Chelsea.
Speaking at the club’s training ground, the 23-year-old winger admitted he laughs when he sees fresh links to Manchester United. “Manchester is home, but I don’t miss it,” he said. “I’ve bought a house here and I’m settled. My future is at Chelsea.”
Palmer, who moved from Manchester City in 2023, has become the Blues’ main threat, scoring 21 goals this season despite a sore ankle that kept him out for five weeks. “The treatment room was frustrating, but I feel sharp again,” he said.
He captained the side for the first time in the FA Cup quarter-final win over Port Vale and believes quiet leadership suits him. “I let the ball do the talking,” he smiled. “If I play well, the rest follow.”
Chelsea end the campaign sixth after a mid-season change of coach, yet Palmer is sure better days are close. “We’ve told the owners exactly which players we need,” he said. “Reece [James] signed a new six-year deal because the plan is clear. If we add the right characters in summer, we’ll challenge for the big trophies.”
Off the pitch, the Wythenshawe-born star says he has warmed to southern life. “Two years ago I called southerners moody,” he laughed. “Now I like how they chat. It helps me come out of my shell.”
Next on his list is a first World Cup. “The butterflies before my England debut were crazy,” he recalled. “I want that feeling again in the States this summer. If I keep scoring, I back myself to make Thomas Tuchel’s final squad.”