Cole Palmer has signed a new contract at Chelsea, keeping him with the club in 2034.
It’s only a one-year extension but the terms have been improved in relation to Palmer’s growing importance for Chelsea. The 24-year-old surprised everyone after his initial move to Chelsea in 2023, with 40 direct goal involvements in 45 games across all competitions.
Palmer wasn’t as successful across the next two campaigns, with injury eventually hampering him last season. In 86 games across 2024/25 and 2025/26, Palmer was directly involved in 45 goals across all competitions. While that is still a good return, it is a big drop off from his maiden campaign.
Xabi Alonso looks to have helped Palmer re-find his 2023/24 form, with seven goal involvements in eight games so far. And Palmer’s performances will be vital to Chelsea’s hopes this season.
How Alonso has helped Palmer re-find form
Settled role with more freedom
One of the biggest problems for Palmer over the previous two seasons was how he was used. Not just by Enzo Maresca, but the Italian does get a lot of the blame, partly due to the length of his time in charge. Palmer’s first season at Chelsea saw the Englishman largely switched between a right-winger and No.10. In fact, 44% of his Premier League minutes came as the No.10. But a lot of analysis saw his most-successful stints from the right.
Across the past two seasons, Palmer was used almost-exclusively as a No.10. He had 75% of his Premier League minutes through the middle, with just 18% on the right. The Englishman also had a few moments on the left. Perhaps the biggest thing here was the lack of fluidity. Palmer himself mentioned it when talking about movements made for his goal against Fulham on the opening weekend.
“Last season, I wouldn’t have even made that run because it’s not a ‘safe zone’,” he said.
“But he [Alonso]’s saying move across that zone, drop into play, come get on the ball, create and just do what you do.”
So far this season, Alonso has kept Palmer in rougly the same position. It’s been the best of post, as a right-sided No.10 in Chelsea’s 3-4-2-1, where Palmer can either drift wide or stay central. There’s more fluidity across the front line, and this is where Palmer thrives most.
Improvements quickly evident
With Palmer’s fixed role, Chelsea are quickly seeing results on the pitch. Even when he doesn’t score or assist in games. That hasn’t happened too often, though, with Palmer directly involved in a goal in four of Chelsea’s six league games so far this season. He continued the run with an assist in the Blues’ 5-1 win over Bournemouth, setting up Jordan Henderson‘s first goal.
That setup has contributed to this being Palmer’s best for assists in the Premier League at Chelsea, now averaging 0.51 per 90 minutes. It’s even better than the 0.38 assists per 90 he managed in his maiden campaign. That’s despite Palmer’s chance creation being slightly down, at a still strong 2.2 per 90 this season. Of course, there are others to share the creative load with this season. And, interestingly, Palmer’s best creative season did come under Enzo Maresca, averaging 2.51 chances created per 90.
The only metric Palmer thrived in last season was his passing accuracy, completing 85.7% of his attempts. But he only created 1.10 chances per 90, with 0.32 through-balls, showing he wasn’t really testing himself as much. However, he has only made 0.34 through-balls this season.
Now, there has been another interesting change in Palmer’s game since his first season at Chelsea. And it isn’t necessarily down to any sort of system. It’s more to do with how Palmer has changed. The Englishman now focuses more on setting teammates up than trying to score himself. Again he’s been able to do it with less responsibilities, though Palmer’s selflessness has hurt Chelsea at times.
After averaging 1.58 shots on target per 90 in 2023/24, Palmer has seen his numbers drop to 1.44 per 90 (2024/25), 1.15 per 90 (2025/26) to finally 0.85 per 90 (this season). Palmer is also having his lowest goalscoring season so far, with 0.34 goals per 90 — less than half of his 0.75 in 2023/24.
Synergy in attack
Perhaps the biggest benefit for Palmer this season has been the addition of Morgan Rogers. Not just because they’re friends, but because of how well they work together. With Joao Pedro in the mix, Chelsea have a very capable front three.
Palmer and Joao Pedro had their opportunities to link up together last season and there were signs of an understanding, even amid Chelsea’s wider issues. Joao Pedro assisted two of Palmer’s league goals last season, with the Englishman returning the favour once — his only league assist. All four of Palmer’s goal involvements this season have also including Joao Pedro. He’s set the Brazilian up twice, and been assisted by him twice.
While the partnership with Rogers is yet to show in the league, Palmer was assisted by his friend twice in the Carabao Cup win over Leeds United. It will take some time for the understanding to fully grow on the pitch, but Rogers will be one of the reasons why Palmer can take it up a level with this new deal.