Cole Palmer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cole Palmer

Palmer with Chelsea in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Cole Jermaine Palmer
Date of birth	(2002-05-06) 6 May 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth	Manchester, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team	Chelsea
Number	10
Youth career
	NJ Wythenshawe
2010–2020	Manchester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2023	Manchester City	19	(0)
2023–	Chelsea	70	(37)
International career‡
2017	England U16	2	(0)
2019	England U17	3	(0)
2019	England U18	9	(2)
2021–2023	England U21	15	(5)
2023–	England	12	(2)
Medal record Men's football Representing  England UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 2023 UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2024
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:00, 25 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:27, 14 July 2025 (UTC)

Cole Jermaine Palmer (born on 6 May 2002) is a talented English footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for the club Chelsea. Cole also plays for the England national team. He is known for his amazing dribbling skills and for helping his team score goals. Many people think he is one of the best attacking midfielders in the world.

Cole grew up in the Manchester City youth academy. He played his first senior game for the club in 2020. He was part of the Manchester City team that won many big trophies in 2023. These included the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.

In 2023, Cole joined Chelsea. He had an incredible first season there. He won several awards, like the PFA Fans' Player of the Year. He also won the PFA Young Player of the Year award. In 2025, Cole helped Chelsea win the UEFA Conference League. He also helped them win the FIFA Club World Cup. He was named the best player in both finals. He also received the Golden Ball award in the Club World Cup.

Cole has played for England at different youth levels. He helped the England Under-21 team win the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2023. He then made his debut for the main England team in the same year. He played for England in UEFA Euro 2024. He scored a goal in the final game of the tournament.

Who is Cole Palmer?

Cole Jermaine Palmer was born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, on 6 May 2002. His father was a dental engineer. His mother helped people with dyslexia. Cole's father played football in local leagues for almost 20 years. Cole often watched him play. He started playing football at a local club called NJ Wythenshawe.

Cole went to Gatley Primary School. Later, he attended St Bede's College. This school worked closely with the Manchester City Academy.

Starting His Journey at Manchester City

Palmer in 2016

Even though he was a fan of Manchester United, Cole joined Manchester City in 2010. He was only eight years old then. He moved up through the different age groups in their Academy. He became the captain of the Under-18 team in the 2019–20 season. When he was 14, some coaches worried he was too small for professional football. They even wanted to let him go at 16. But the academy director, Jason Wilcox, believed in him.

First Steps and Big Goals

On 30 September 2020, Cole played his first game for Manchester City's main team. This was in a 3–0 win against Burnley in the EFL Cup. On 21 September 2021, he scored his first goal for the club. This was in a big 6–1 win against Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup.

On 16 October, Cole played in a Premier League game. That same night, he scored three goals (a hat-trick) for City's Under-23 team. A few days later, on 19 October, Cole scored his first goal in European competitions. This happened when he came on as a substitute in a 5–1 win against Club Brugge in the Champions League. On 7 January 2022, Cole scored in his first FA Cup game. City won that game 4–1 against Swindon Town.

Winning Trophies with City

Palmer playing for Manchester City in 2023

Cole played more often during the 2022–23 season. He often came on as a substitute. He played in 14 Premier League games. This helped Manchester City win the league title. On 18 March 2023, he scored a goal in a strong FA Cup quarter-final game against Burnley. Cole also played in four games during City's Champions League winning journey.

On 6 August 2023, Cole scored the first goal in the 2023 FA Community Shield against Arsenal. He came on as a substitute for Erling Haaland. However, Arsenal scored late in the game. They eventually won the match after a penalty shoot-out. Ten days later, Cole scored a goal to make the score equal in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla. Manchester City won this game 5–4 in a penalty shoot-out. This was his last game for Manchester City.

Becoming a Star at Chelsea

A Fantastic First Season

On 1 September 2023, Cole signed a seven-year contract with Premier League club Chelsea. He made his debut the next day. He came on as a substitute in a 1–0 loss to Nottingham Forest. On 7 October, Cole scored his first goal for Chelsea from a penalty kick. He also helped set up a goal for Nicolas Jackson. Chelsea won that game 4–1 against Burnley.

On 6 November, Cole scored a goal and helped set up another in a 4–1 win against Tottenham Hotspur. Six days later, Cole scored a penalty in extra time against his old club, Manchester City. The game ended in an exciting 4–4 draw.

In Chelsea's last game of 2023, against Luton Town, Cole scored two goals for the first time in his professional career. He also helped set up a goal for Noni Madueke. Chelsea won 3–2. Because of his great performances in December, he was chosen as a top player for the Premier League Player of the Month award. His second goal against Luton Town was also nominated for Goal of the Month.

On 23 January 2024, Cole scored two more goals. This was in the EFL Cup semi-finals. Chelsea beat Middlesbrough 6–1 to reach the final at Wembley Stadium. He scored his tenth league goal of the season on 4 February. This made him the first Chelsea player aged 21 or younger to score 10 Premier League goals in a season. On 29 February, Cole was named the Men's Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards. By helping set up a goal for Axel Disasi on 2 March, Cole became the Chelsea player with the most goals and assists in a season at age 21 or younger. He beat Arjen Robben's record from the 2004–05 season.

On 4 April, Cole was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award again. He had scored three goals and provided two assists in March. Later that day, he scored his first career hat-trick. Two of these goals came very late in the game. This helped Chelsea win 4–3 against Manchester United. Cole became the 200th player in Premier League history to score three goals in one game. He was also the third youngest to do so against Manchester United. His performance in this game earned him the Premier League Game Changer of the Season award.

On 15 April, Cole scored his second career hat-trick against Everton in a 6–0 win. He scored four goals in total in that match. He became the first Chelsea player to score two Premier League hat-tricks in one season. He also set a record for the fastest hat-trick in the Premier League, scoring three goals in just 29 minutes. He was the third player in Chelsea's history to score at least 20 goals in his first season.

On 5 May, Cole scored in a 5–0 win against West Ham United. He became only the third player in Premier League history aged 21 or younger to be involved in 30 or more goals in a single season. Cole was then named Chelsea Player of the Season. He also won the Premier League Player of the Month award for April 2024. His first goal against Everton won the Premier League Goal of the Month award. He was the first Chelsea player and fifth player overall to win both awards in the same month. On 11 May, Cole played his 50th Premier League game. He also provided an assist in a 3–2 win against Nottingham Forest. He became the 13th player in Premier League history to score 20 or more goals and provide 10 or more assists in the same season.

Cole finished the season with 27 goals and 15 assists across all competitions. He had the most goals and assists (33: 22 goals, 11 assists) of any player in the 2023–24 Premier League season. He won the Premier League Young Player of the Season award. He also won the PFA Fans' Player of the Year award for his amazing first season at Chelsea.

Winning European and World Titles

Palmer receiving the 2025 FIFA Club World cup Golden Ball award from U.S. president Donald Trump

Before his second season started, Cole signed a new nine-year contract with Chelsea. This keeps him at the club until at least June 2033. On 20 August, Cole was given the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Five days later, Cole scored his first goal of the new season against Wolverhampton Wanderers. This goal won the Premier League Goal of the Month award for August 2024. This made Cole the first player to win this award twice in a row across two seasons. In the same game, Cole helped set up all three of Noni Madueke's goals. Chelsea won 6–2. This performance led to Cole being nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award for August 2024.

In a 4–2 win against Brighton & Hove Albion on 28 September, Cole scored four goals in the first half. He was the first player to do this in the Premier League. On 11 October, Cole won the Premier League Player of the Month award for September. He scored five goals and provided one assist that month. This helped Chelsea stay unbeaten in September.

On 1 December, Cole scored his 30th goal in the Premier League. This was in a 3–0 win against Aston Villa. He was the second-fastest Chelsea player to score 30 league goals. Only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink did it faster. The next week, he scored two penalties in an exciting 4–3 win over Tottenham. One of them was a clever penalty. With twelve penalties scored out of twelve taken, Cole set a new Premier League record. He scored the most penalties without missing any. He beat Yaya Touré's old record of eleven. In 2024, Cole also broke the record for the Chelsea player with the most goals and assists in a calendar year in the Premier League. He beat Hasselbaink's record of 36 goals and assists from 2001.

On 28 May 2025, Cole was named the best player in the 2025 UEFA Conference League final. He provided two assists. This helped Chelsea become the first team to win all four major European competitions. On 20 June, Cole was one of six players nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.

Later that year, on 13 July, he scored two goals and provided an assist. This was in a 3–0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final. He was named the player of the match. He finished the tournament with three goals and two assists. He won the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player.

Playing for England

Youth Teams and Senior Debut

Cole played for the England Under-17 team in the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

On 27 August 2021, Cole was chosen for the England Under-21 team for the first time. He scored a goal in his first game. This was a 2–0 win against Kosovo in the qualifying games for the 2023 European Under-21 Championship. He was later chosen for the England team for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He played in the final game, and the England team won the tournament.

On 13 November 2023, Cole was chosen for the main England national team for the first time. This was for their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying games against Malta and North Macedonia. He played his first game for England on 17 November. He came on as a substitute in England's 2–0 win against Malta at Wembley Stadium.

Representing His Country at Euro 2024

In May 2024, Cole was chosen for the first group of 33 players for UEFA Euro 2024. Cole started his first game for England and scored his first goal for the main team in a friendly game against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 3 June. Three days later, he was named in coach Gareth Southgate's final team of 26 players for the tournament. He played his first game in the tournament as a substitute. This was in England's last group game against Slovenia on 25 June. Five days later, he came on as a substitute again. This was in England's 2–1 extra time win over Slovakia in the round of 16.

Cole came on as a substitute in the quarter-final against Switzerland. He scored the first penalty in England's 5–3 penalty shootout win. On 10 July, Cole came off the bench with Ollie Watkins. He helped set up Watkins' winning goal in the 90th minute of the semi-final against the Netherlands. This helped England reach their second Euro final in a row. It was also their first final ever played outside of England. Four days later, on 14 July, Cole came off the bench in the final against Spain. He scored England's goal from outside the penalty area just three minutes later to make the score equal. However, Spain went on to win the match 2–1.

On 8 October 2024, Cole was named the England Men's Player of the Year for the 2023–24 season.

Personal Life and Heritage

Cole Palmer has family heritage from Saint Kitts and Nevis on his father's side. His grandfather, Sterry, moved to England in 1960 when he was six years old. His great-grandparents were part of a group who moved from the Caribbean to the UK many years ago. Cole shows his pride in both England and Saint Kitts and Nevis by having their flags on his football boots.

Cole Palmer's Playing Style

Cole Palmer is a playmaker. This means he is a player who helps create goals for his team. He mostly plays as an attacking midfielder, which is sometimes called the number ten role. He can also play as a winger on either side of the field. He is known for his skill and calm approach when taking penalties. He is also great at passing the ball and dribbling past opponents. He often takes shots from far away and moves into the middle of the field to attack. While he mostly uses his left foot, he can also play well with his right foot. Many people in the media describe him as one of the best attacking midfielders in the world.

See also

In Spanish: Cole Palmer para niños