Cole Palmer: From Doubt to Triumph
“Cole Palmer is too small.” This was the prevailing sentiment at Manchester City when the slender midfielder transitioned to the under-16s, where he struggled to leave a mark. Coaches recognized his potential and appreciated his skill, but they felt that his lack of physicality was a significant drawback. However, everything changed when he turned 15 and was assigned to a new team.
“This coach had a different perspective,” Palmer shares in a new Prime Video documentary titled England’s Lions: A New Generation. He candidly admits that his struggle to accelerate past defenders was indeed affecting his performance on the pitch. His parents, Jermaine and Marie, were also concerned but held onto hope that he would eventually grow.
“They measure the bone in your hand to predict your height, and they estimated he would reach 5ft 9in,” Jermaine recalls. “At one point, he was almost released by City.” However, both Jermaine and the academy director, Jason Wilcox, refused to accept this prognosis—“That would have made him one of the shortest in our family!” They steadfastly supported Palmer throughout his academy journey, “just waiting for that growth spurt.”
Resilience and Growth
“I never really believed that I would remain small,” Palmer reflects. Jermaine, a former youth player at Stoke whom his son describes as “a Sunday League player,” was ultimately correct. Now at 22 years old, Palmer stands at an impressive 6ft 1in, all while retaining the exceptional skill that once compensated for his smaller stature. His current market value exceeds £100 million, yet City never fully recognized his worth.
Throughout his time at City, Palmer made 41 appearances for the first team, but he rarely started matches or played in the style he preferred. Frustrated, he expressed a desire to go out on loan, a request that City denied. This left Palmer, who had been with the club since age seven, facing a challenging crossroads.
“I did feel a bit disheartened,” he admits. “You start to wonder, ‘Why am I not getting the opportunity to play?’ You just know when you’re ready to take the field.”
A Bold Move to Chelsea
When Chelsea came calling, the prospect of moving south was daunting. Palmer confides, “I was so determined at first, saying, ‘No, I’m not going.’ I had never lived anywhere but Manchester. I had always been at my Mum’s house. The thought of leaving was daunting for me.”
Eventually, he came to terms with the idea, and a deal worth £40 million saw him make the journey down the M6 to Chelsea.
His mother Marie expressed her surprise, saying, “As soon as he left, I expected City to call and say, ‘Wait, don’t go!’ But that call never came. So off he went!”
The financial investment in a 21-year-old proved to be a wise decision, as Palmer quickly made his mark at Stamford Bridge. He netted an impressive 25 goals in 45 appearances during his debut season and capped it all off with a goal in the Euro 2024 final, despite England falling 2-1 to Spain.
“When I joined Chelsea, I thought, ‘This is it,’” Palmer acknowledges. “It’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made.”
While some believe that a player of Palmer’s caliber would have thrived regardless of his club, Jermaine views the transfer as a pivotal moment in his son’s career. “I genuinely don’t think he would have achieved this level of success at City. There, you have to adhere to a specific style of play, whereas now he has the freedom to express himself. It’s turned out to be a fantastic move for him.”
England’s Lions: A New Generation is available exclusively on Prime Video starting Saturday, March 15.
