How did Cole Palmer become Chelsea's "locomotive"?

(Dan Tri) - Cole Palmer is facing a memorable milestone if he plays for Chelsea in the match against Bayern Munich in the first round of the 2025-26 Champions League group stage in the early morning of September 18.

On the morning of September 18, Cole Palmer will enter his 100th match in a Chelsea shirt, a memorable milestone in the 23-year-old's young career. The encounter with Bayern Munich in the Champions League not only marks a round number but also clearly demonstrates Palmer's remarkable progress since joining Stamford Bridge.

Three years ago, Palmer's decision to leave Man City to find a new home at Chelsea was met with much skepticism. However, time has answered all. In less than three seasons, Palmer has established himself as an indispensable factor, becoming the creative center and inspiration for The Blues' attacking style of play.

Palmer scored against Brentford in Chelsea's 2-2 draw on September 13 (Photo: Getty).

The stats speak for themselves: Palmer has been directly involved in nearly a third of Chelsea's goals. He has scored 44 goals and provided 28 assists - an impressive return for a young player. To date, Palmer has appeared in 99 of a possible 115 games (86% appearance rate), directly involved in 72 goals, accounting for nearly 30% of Chelsea's 242 goals.

When you compare Palmer to his teammates, his influence becomes even more apparent. Nicolas Jackson, once the main striker, has only contributed to 41 goals. Enzo Fernandez stopped at 38, while Noni Madueke (25) and Christopher Nkunku (23) are even more modest. If you only consider the number of goals, Palmer even surpasses them all, with 44, more than Jackson (29), Nkunku (18), Madueke (18) and Fernandez (17).

What makes Palmer so highly regarded is not only his consistency, but also his ability to shine in important moments. He was a major contributor to Chelsea's victories in the FIFA Club World Cup and Conference League. His goals and assists have often been the turning point, helping the team overcome difficulties in key matches.

Reaching the 100-game mark in just three seasons is a testament to Palmer’s exceptional talent and tenacity, and also shows the faith that successive Chelsea managers have placed in him. In a team that is constantly changing in terms of personnel and style of play, Palmer has always maintained a central role, something that not all young players can do.

Palmer becomes the new icon of Stamford Bridge (Photo: Getty).

For Chelsea fans, Palmer is no longer just a talented player, but has become a new symbol of the team's ambition and fighting spirit. He is the embodiment of perseverance, the desire to conquer and the affirmation that Chelsea still has stars who can shape the long-term future.

The upcoming match against Bayern Munich is not only an opportunity for Palmer to reach the 100-match milestone, but also an opportunity for him to continue to prove his mettle in Europe's most prestigious playground. With stable performance and great influence, the 23-year-old player promises to bring many memorable moments to The Blues in the coming years.

At 23, Cole Palmer has come a long way with Chelsea. And if he continues to maintain his current form, the 100-game milestone is just the beginning of his journey to becoming a new legend at Stamford Bridge.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/cole-palmer-tro-thanh-dau-tau-cua-chelsea-nhu-the-nao-20250917102211964.htm