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Chelsea’s acquisition of Cole Palmer has demonstrated in itself to be nothing short of a masterstroke as the player continues to prove his doubters wrong. The England midfielder, who arrived from Manchester City at the start of the 2023/24 season, has been a revelation in every sense.
From the moment Palmer donned the Chelsea jersey, he has dazzled with his creativity and game-changing abilities. He quickly silenced critics by netting crucial goals and earning numerous individual accolades.
This stunning transformation is a far cry from the gloomy expectations when the 22-year-old first arrived at Stamford Bridge. Many Chelsea fans were far from optimistic, doubting whether he could make any significant impact.
Social media was rife with skepticism, and some reactions were brutally dismissive. One fan called the deal an “embarrassing transaction,” while another deemed it a “pointless transfer.”
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Indeed, Palmer’s £40M+ switch to the 2021 Champions League winners sparked widespread negativity. Hardly anyone saw the potential for him to become one of Chelsea‘s standout performers.
However, Palmer has flipped the script entirely, proving that the doubters were wrong. His brilliance has been a lifeline for a Chelsea team in desperate need of fresh inspiration.
As X user, Zion Mind @Jeffreykyere described, the deal between City and Chelsea for the player didn’t “seem great to most Chelsea fans.”
When Chelsea signed Cole Palmer from City, the move barely caused a stir. Pessimism and doubt echoed through the Chelsea fanbase, with many questioning why the club pursued the young midfielder.
From weak expectations to strong convictions
Social media reactions painted a bleak picture of Palmer’s arrival. Words like “horrible business,” “needless signing,” and “bad news” dominated conversations, dampening expectations before he even stepped onto the pitch.
Despite the negativity, Palmer quickly became a revelation in Chelsea blue. His consistency throughout the 2023/24 season remained evident, as he carried the team through a topsy-turvy campaign.
Initially, Palmer wasn’t even part of Chelsea’s transfer strategy. The Blues turned to him after their failed pursuit of Ghanaian star Mohammed Kudus, who ended up at West Ham United.
Acquired on deadline day for £40 million, with £2.5 million in add-ons, Palmer arrived at Stamford Bridge as an under-the-radar signing. Yet, few anticipated the immense impact he would make for the club.
One fan on social media finally praised the deal, calling it “a really good signing”. Another, filled with joy, simply posted, “So happy” after Palmer’s acquisition.
By season’s end, Palmer had surpassed expectations, leading the Premier League in combined goals and assists. At just 22 years and 13 days old, he racked up an impressive 33 contributions—22 goals and 11 assists.
Palmer’s records placed among the greats’
In Chelsea’s history, only two players have ever posted better numbers in a single season: Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. Palmer’s achievements placed him in legendary company, becoming only the third player to hit 20+ goals and 10+ assists in a Premier League campaign.
As if that was not enough, the midfielder also wrote his name in the record books by dispatching two hat-tricks at Stamford Bridge in the same season. This feat had never before accomplished by a Chelsea player.
Former Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba had scored consecutive hat-tricks at the Bridge, however they spanned two seasons (2009/10 and 2010/11).
Palmer’s back-to-back hat-tricks included a perfect hat-trick against Everton in a 6-0 drubbing, during which he scoured four goals, setting the record for the quickest hat-trick in the Blues’ Premier League history, scoring thrice within 29 minutes.
This performance placed him among an elite group of Chelsea players to score four goals in a single Premier League match.
Interestingly, he has broken the record for the fastest hat-trick by a Chelsea player in Premier League history already this season.
Against Brighton on Saturday, Palmer scored all four goals for the Blues as they won 4-2. His record-breaking ten-minute hat-trick was simply phenomenal.
His four first half goals also mean he is the first player in Premier League history to score four goals before halftime.
So far in the 2024/25 campaign, he has scored six goals and created four assists in six league outings.
His performances last term saw him deservedly scoop the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.
The 2024/25 season has begun and Cole Palmer has hit the ground running again. One year and one month as a Chelsea player, he has silenced his critics and continues to prove how important he is to the Chelsea Football Club.
Tags: Cole Palmer, Chelsea, Manchester City, Premier League, Brighton, Stamford Bridge, Premier League Young Player of the Season, 2023/24, 2024/25, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnews, #nrtcnigeria, #nrtcsports.
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