Cole Palmer Biography: Early Life, Career, Stats, Salary, Net Worth

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Cole Jermaine Palmer, also known as Cole Palmer, is an English professional footballer who has quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s most intriguing talents. Palmer was born in Manchester on May 6, 2002, and is known for his silky dribbling, great vision, accurate finishing, and incredible coolness under pressure. His meteoric ascent since joining Chelsea has secured his place as a key attacking force for both the club and country.

Palmer has represented England at numerous young levels, including winning the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, before making his senior debut that same year. He represented his country at UEFA Euro 2024, scoring the game-tying goal in the final.

Cole Palmer Biography

Cole Jermaine Palmer was born on May 6, 2002, in Wythenshawe, Manchester. He and his sister were raised by his father, a dental engineer, and his mother, a dyslexia examiner. Palmer’s father played Sunday league football for nearly two decades, and Palmer was a regular spectator. Growing up in Wythenshawe, he began playing football with his local grassroots club, NJ Wythenshawe.

Palmer attended Gatley Primary School in Stockport before receiving private education at St Bede’s College, which collaborated with the Manchester City Academy.

Career

Despite being a Manchester United fan, Palmer joined Manchester City in 2010 at the under-eight level and advanced through the Academy age groups until captaining the under-18s in the 2019-20 season. He had been concerned from the age of 14 that his physique was too small for professional football, and academy coaches wanted to discharge him at 16, but academy director Jason Wilcox overruled their decision.

Palmer made his City first-team debut on September 30, 2020, in a 3-0 away win over Burnley in the EFL Cup fourth round. He scored his first goal in the EFL Cup on September 21, 2021, in a 6-1 home win over League One club Wycombe Wanderers in the third round. Palmer appeared in the Premier League against Burnley on October 16 and scored three goals for City’s under-23 team that night.

Cole Palmer scored his first goal in European football on October 19, coming on as a substitute in a 5-1 away win over Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Palmer made his FA Cup debut on January 7, 2022, scoring in a 4-1 away win over League Two club Swindon Town.

Palmer’s role rose during the 2022-23 season, but he was still primarily a substitute. However, his 14 Premier League outings helped Manchester City win the title. On March 18, 2023, he scored the team’s sixth goal in a dominating performance against Burnley in the FA Cup quarterfinals. Palmer also made four appearances during City’s Champions League triumph.

Palmer scored the first goal of the 2023 FA Community Shield against Arsenal on August 6, 2023, after replacing Erling Haaland in the second half. Arsenal, on the other hand, scored in stoppage time and went on to win the match by penalty shootout.

Ten days later, Palmer equalised in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla, which Manchester City won 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1, in his final appearance for the club. Palmer signed a seven-year contract with the option to extend it for a further year with Premier League team Chelsea on September 1.

The initial transfer fee was estimated to be £40 million, with potential add-ons of up to £2.5 million.  He made his debut the next day, coming on as a 62nd-minute replacement in a 1-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest. Palmer scored his first Chelsea goal, a penalty kick, on October 7, and assisted Nicolas Jackson’s goal in a 4-1 away win over Burnley.

Palmer scored and assisted in a 4-1 away triumph over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on November 6. Six days later, Palmer scored a stoppage-time penalty against his former club Manchester City in a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge. Palmer scored twice for the first time professionally in Chelsea’s final match of 2023, a 3-2 victory over Luton Town. He also assisted Noni Madueke’s goal.

Palmer was nominated for Premier League Player of the Month for his exploits in December, which included four goals and two assists, as well as Premier League Goal of the Month for his second goal against Luton Town. Palmer scored another brace on January 23, 2024, in the EFL Cup semi-finals, as Chelsea overcame Middlesbrough 6-1 (6-2 on aggregate) and advanced to the final at Wembley Stadium.

On 4 February, he scored his tenth league goal of the season in a 4-2 home loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers, becoming the youngest Chelsea player under 21 to score ten Premier League goals in a single season. On February 29, 2024, he was crowned Men’s Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards.

Palmer became the Chelsea player with the most goal contributions in a season at 21 or younger after assisting Axel Disasi’s goal against Brentford on March 2, surpassing Arjen Robben’s tally of 16 in 2004-05.

Palmer was named man of the match on May 28, 2025, after producing two assists in Chelsea’s 2025 UEFA Conference League final victory over Real Betis, which helped the club become the first to win all four major European competitions. On June 20, Palmer was named one of six nominees for PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

Later that year, on July 13, he scored twice and assisted in a 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final, earning Player of the Match honours. He finished the tournament with three goals and two assists, earning the Golden Ball as the top performer.

International Career

Palmer competed for the England national under-17 team in the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. Palmer’s first call-up to the England under-21s came on August 27, 2021. He scored on his debut in a 2-0 victory over Kosovo during the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification. He was later named to England’s squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where he started in the final and helped the Young Lions win the competition.

Palmer received his first call-up to the senior England national team on 13 November 2023, ahead of their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Malta and North Macedonia. He made his debut on 17 November, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute in England’s 2-0 victory over Malta at Wembley Stadium.

Palmer was included in UEFA Euro 2024’s preliminary roster of 33 players in May 2024. Palmer made his England debut and scored his first senior international goal in a pre-tournament friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 3.

Three days later, he was picked to coach Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man roster for the tournament. He made his tournament debut as a substitute in England’s last Group C encounter against Slovenia on June 25. Five days later, he returned as a substitute, replacing Kieran Trippier in the 66th minute of England’s 2-1 extra-time victory over Slovakia in the round of 16.

Palmer came in as a 78th-minute replacement for Ezri Konsa in England’s quarter-final win over Switzerland, scoring the first kick of the 5-3 penalty shootout victory. Palmer came off the bench with Ollie Watkins in the 81st minute to assist the latter’s winning goal in the 90th minute of England’s semi-final against the Netherlands, propelling them to their second consecutive Euros final and first on foreign soil.

Four days later, on July 14, Palmer came off the bench in the 70th minute of England’s final against Spain, scoring the equaliser from beyond the box three minutes later. However, Spain won the match 2-1. On October 8, 2024, Palmer was awarded the England Men’s Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season.

Personal Life

There is currently no reliable information about Cole Palmer having a girlfriend. While media stories have linked him to influencer Connie Grace, these claims have yet to be confirmed. At this point in his career, Palmer looks to be exclusively concerned with football and his developing role at Chelsea.

Cole Palmer does not have children. Still in the beginning of his professional career, he has chosen to keep his personal life secret while focusing his energies on football.

Palmer is of Afro-Kittitian heritage on his father’s side. His grandfather, Sterry (born 1953), emigrated at the age of six in 1960, and his great-grandparents emigrated five years earlier as part of the Windrush generation. Palmer branded his footwear with the flags of England and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Cole Palmer Net Worth and Salary

Cole Palmer presently earns a weekly income of £22,000, which equates to £1,144,000 per year. His transfer to Chelsea from Manchester City provided not only a new challenge but also an appealing financial offer. Cole Palmer’s net worth in 2025 is estimated to be between £12.5 million and £14 million. Sources attribute his quickly increasing riches to his Chelsea contract, rising income, and sponsorship deals.

Social Media

Instagram: @colepalmer10