Cole Palmer was ranked eighth in the world at September’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, but recent performances suggest his influence at Chelsea F.C. has dipped.
The 23-year-old is still viewed internally as central to the club’s long-term project. Former head coach Enzo Maresca labelled him Chelsea’s “best player”, while current boss Liam Rosenior has held several meetings with him since taking charge. Yet even Palmer has admitted he is not operating at his usual level.
Burnout and fitness concerns
One major factor appears to be workload. Palmer has played 112 matches for club and country across three consecutive summers, including the European Championship, Under-21 Euros and the Club World Cup.
Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Maheta Molango recently warned about burnout among elite players, stressing that financial reward does not protect them from physical fatigue.
The heavy schedule coincided with a recurring groin issue that emerged late last season. Palmer returned in December after more than six weeks out, but Chelsea’s medical staff continue to monitor his condition carefully.
Following the 2-1 defeat by Arsenal, Rosenior said Palmer’s substitution after 83 minutes was tactical and insisted he remains fit to start the next fixture. Still, withdrawing Chelsea’s main creative outlet while chasing an equaliser underlined how carefully his minutes are being managed.
What do the numbers say?
Since his December return, Palmer has registered seven goals and three assists in 16 matches. However, four of those goals came from the penalty spot.
Spot-kicks have consistently bolstered his output — 40% of his 40 Premier League goals have been penalties. No player has scored more league penalties than his 18 since his Chelsea debut in September 2023.
The contrast with his explosive early spell is striking. From his debut to January 2025, Palmer delivered 36 league goals and 17 assists in 54 games. Since then, he has managed nine league goals and three assists in 33 matches, with two-thirds of those goals coming from penalties. His shot numbers, chance creation and expected-goals metrics have all declined.
Interestingly, Chelsea’s results without him have been stronger this season. They have won 73% of matches in his absence compared with 24% when he plays, averaging more points and more goals per game without him.
Those statistics sit uneasily alongside his decisive displays in the Conference League final victory over Real Betis and the Club World Cup triumph against Paris St-Germain.
Palmer recently admitted he is “still not there physically” but hopes to rediscover his best form. For Chelsea, reigniting their talisman could shape the direction of their campaign.
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