Can Cole Palmer become the best English footballer ever?

12 months ago, Cole Palmer looked set to earn more playing time for Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Man City side. Now, he’s the focal point of Chelsea’s attack and one of England’s best performers at Euro 2024, but just how good can he be? All stats provided by Transfermarktt unless otherwise stated.

The 22/23 season saw limited opportunities for Palmer, playing 122 minutes across four performances for City and contributing just one assist.

Deadline day in 2023 saw Palmer move from City to Chelsea in a £42.5 million (€50.6million/$55.4 million) move. City manager Pep Guardiola said, “In pre-season I said stay because Riyad [Mahrez] has gone and he said 'no, I want to leave',” per BBC Sport.

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It takes a certain kind of bravery to force a move away from a side as dominant as City, where a good salary and trophies are all but guaranteed. A move to Chelsea was no sure thing given their horrendous recent form and chaotic ownership. Palmer’s confidence never waned as the youngster forced himself to the Blues.

Guardiola's praise for Palmer has been effusive since his move away from The Etihad, telling TNT Sport, “We knew the quality he has and the impact he has shown this season is enormous… He is an incredible threat for Chelsea. In the future you will not forget. It looks easy, but it's not.”

In a season of ups and downs at Stamford Bridge, one player remained consistent throughout, playing 2.618 minutes, scoring 22 times, and assisting 11 goals. These stats put him atop the combined G/A charts, one ahead of England teammate Ollie Watkins, per Statmuse.

10 of Palmer’s goals in the 23/24 season came via the penalty spot, a stat some rival fans have used to knock the Chelsea player, a claim that lacks any nuance. Palmer’s consistency from the spot is almost unprecedented, with the Chelsea man converting 14 out of 14 penalties in professional football, leading to GiveMeSport ranking him as the best in the world from 12 yards.

There are a few candidates in the current England setup who could take the mantle as England’s best-ever player, but former England striker Gary Lineker said, “We know we’ve got a lot of talented young players, but this kid he might well be the best of the lot,” on his podcast, The Rest is Football.

Lineker continued by saying, “I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but I don’t think he cares about pressure,” in what was surely a reference to Palmer’s unfaltering ability from the penalty spot.

According to FourFourTwo, England’s top three players of all time are, Harry Kane, Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton. That list includes two World Cup winners and England’s all-time top scorer. What does Palmer need to do to surpass these greats of the game?

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As harsh as it may have been, Palmer didn’t start a single game for England at Euro 2024, with Gareth Southgate preferring Palmer’s former City teammate Phil Foden in his stead. Palmer’s cameos and link-up play with Ollie Watkins and Bukayo Saka looked better than anything Foden did all tournament, so perhaps he will earn a starting spot under the next coach.

England is currently blessed with attacking talent, but with Jude Bellingham, Foden, and Palmer looking to operate in similar areas, their job is made complicated. If Palmer can continue his incredible run of form and lock down the “number 10” spot, England could look to build around an attacking axis of him, Saka and possibly Ollie Watkins.

Whilst the English trope of “football’s coming home” is more in reference to England hosting Euro 1996 than any suggestion England would win a tournament, for Palmer to earn a claim as England’s best ever, he will need to win a major trophy.

Palmer’s 73rd-minute equaliser in the Euro 2024 final was textbook, placing a left-footed shot past the keeper from the edge of the 18-yard box. Phil McNulty described it as, “a composed left-foot strike,” which perhaps understates the magnitude of the moment in a way that summarises Palmer’s refusal to feel the weight of pressure.

It is tough to predict the future of any footballer, but we see no reason for Palmer to not continue his incredible form. With a new coach at Chelsea and a vacancy in the national team, how Palmer is utilised could change moving forward, but if he is “given the keys”, as some fans like to say, he could well lead his national side to glory, possibly even in 2026…

England’s young generation of talent includes Palmer Bellingham, Foden, Saka, Kobbie Mainoo, and Adam Wharton, with each player having the potential to lead their nation to glory. Which player do you think will take the reins and become known as an England great?

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