Cole Palmer Secures Premier League Young Player of the Year Award for Chelsea

Cole Palmer Shines in First Season with Chelsea

Cole Palmer has been named the Premier League Young Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season after an impressive debut with Chelsea.

Palmer kicked off the season by scoring for Manchester City in both the Community Shield and the UEFA Super Cup. However, his move to Chelsea on the summer transfer deadline day for £42.5 million surprised many.

Despite doubts about Chelsea’s transfer strategies, Palmer quickly proved his worth. He scored his first goal for Chelsea in October against Burnley and soon became a regular starter under manager Mauricio Pochettino. Notable performances included goals against Arsenal, Tottenham, and a dramatic stoppage-time penalty against his former team, Manchester City, to secure a 4-4 draw.

Palmer’s season only got better. In April, he scored a hat-trick against Manchester United and followed that with four goals against Everton, including a ‘perfect’ hat-trick within half an hour.

As the season comes to a close, Palmer has an impressive record of 22 league goals and 10 assists in 33 appearances, including one for Manchester City. Across all competitions, he has 27 goals and 14 assists. He is currently in the running for the Premier League Golden Boot, trailing only Erling Haaland by five goals.

Palmer made his senior England debut in November and is expected to be part of the Euro 2024 squad.

Last season, Bukayo Saka won the Young Player of the Year award, with Phil Foden winning it the previous two years. The last Chelsea player to win the award was Eden Hazard in 2014.

This year, Palmer beat out strong competition, including his former City teammates Haaland and Foden, Arsenal’s Saka and William Saliba, Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie, and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. The winner was decided by a panel of experts and a public vote.

Palmer was also nominated for the main Premier League Player of the Season award, with the winner to be announced soon. He has already won Chelsea’s Men’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards, and he was named Premier League Player of the Month and Goal of the Month for April.

Additionally, Palmer has been nominated for the PFA Premier League Player of the Year award, although Phil Foden won the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year prize.