At Chelsea’s glamorous end-of-season awards ceremony last night, Cole Palmer clinched both the Men’s Player of the Year and Men’s Players’ Player of the Year titles. The 22-year-old’s transition from Manchester City to Chelsea has been a revelation, making him a seemingly inevitable recipient of the club’s Player of the Year accolade, previously won by Thiago Silva.
Despite initial skepticism surrounding Chelsea’s hefty £42.5 million investment in Palmer last summer, his debut season has silenced critics. Amassing 24 goals and 13 assists, Palmer’s outstanding performance contrasts with Chelsea’s overall disappointing campaign. The Manchester City academy alumnus, who earned his England debut in November, aims to further bolster his impressive stats in the team’s remaining fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Brighton, and Bournemouth.
While the season saw Palmer on the losing side in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals, his elation was evident as he accepted his awards at Stamford Bridge. When questioned about his aspirations for Euro 2024 after winning the Player of the Year award, Palmer expressed his hope of making the squad but emphasized his focus on Chelsea’s remaining matches.
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In a landslide victory, Palmer secured both Player of the Year titles, underscoring his exceptional performance throughout the season under Mauricio Pochettino. Despite being unable to vote for himself, Palmer disclosed his choice for the Players’ Player of the Year, naming Malo Gusto during a conversation with the club’s social media team post-ceremony.
Expressing gratitude to the club, staff, teammates, and fans for their support, Palmer highlighted his dream debut season. He praised Gusto’s contributions on the right flank, explaining his vote for the Frenchman.
Chelsea acquired Gusto from Lyon in January 2023, subsequently loaning him back to the French club for the remainder of the season. Since his Chelsea debut in August, Gusto has excelled, particularly in the absence of Reece James, amassing 33 appearances across all competitions. With a senior France debut under his belt, Gusto eyes a spot in Didier Deschamps’ squad for the upcoming European Championships.