At City, he struggled for regular playing time, starting just 13 of his 41 senior appearances, before moving to Stamford Bridge in search of a bigger role. That gamble paid off in a big way.
Palmer quickly became one of the Premier League’s standout players, notching 27 goals and 15 assists in 48 matches during a sensational debut season. His performances earned him both the PFA and Premier League Young Player of the Season awards for 2023/24.
This past season, he added 15 goals and 12 assists in 46 games, helping Chelsea win the UEFA Conference League and secure a Champions League spot with a fourth-place league finish.
Any mid-season dip in form has been overshadowed by his resurgence, especially after a dominant showing at the FIFA Club World Cup this summer, where he had a hand in all three goals (two goals and one assist) during Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over PSG in the final.
Palmer’s rise has reportedly caught the eye of his former manager, Pep Guardiola, who is said to be eager to bring him back to the Etihad. According to Fichajes, City made a massive £149 million bid, well above the previous British record of £100 million (plus £16 million in add-ons) that Liverpool paid for Florian Wirtz earlier this summer.
But Chelsea aren’t interested. Club officials have reportedly made it clear that they will not even consider a sale unless they receive an unprecedented world-record bid of £250 million.
