Chelsea star Cole Palmer has revealed that he almost missed out on becoming Stamford Bridge’s hottest talent after coming close to rejecting a move to west London.

The former Manchester City midfielder left his boyhood club to join Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues in the summer of 2023. His initial season at Chelsea brought immense success, seeing Palmer become not only one of the brightest talents at the club, but one of the Premier League’s most interesting players also.

Already this season he’s netted seven goals in 13 appearances, four of which came in the first half of Chelsea’s victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in September. His 27 goals last time out remain an incredible feat, but Palmer has now admitted that he “wasn’t going to” accept a move to the capital.

“I wasn’t even gonna go [to] Chelsea,” he revealed to GQ. “I got persuaded.”

He did, however, want to leave his childhood club, knowing that he’d struggle to earn game time in Pep Guardiola’s team.

“I just knew I wasn’t going to play as much as I wanted to. Even when I was going to England [camps] with younger age groups, you had players there who were playing in the league every week. And you’re looking around thinking, I can play in the league. When you’re not playing, it’s annoying.

“I just wanted to go on loan. I remember training on a Wednesday at City in the afternoon, and the news was ‘they’re trying to agree a fee’. Every time the ball went out I’d ask the kit man or the doctor if they’ve agreed the fee yet.

“So I didn’t really get a chance to see many people and say I’m going. I just had to get my stuff. I messaged the group chat, said ‘Thanks and everything. I’m gone.’ That was it.”

The brutal reality of leaving his boyhood club was soon sweetened by his welcome reception at Chelsea, becoming a vital member of the team almost immediately.

Palmer has featured in every one of his side’s Premier League fixtures so far this year, and is expected to remain a key part of Enzo Maresca’s plans for the foreseeable future.

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