Chelsea announced on Saturday that attacking midfielder Cole Palmer has signed a contract extension keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2034, the latest in a series of long-term commitments the Premier League club has made to its core players.
Palmer, 24, is an England international and has become a pivotal figure since joining Chelsea from Manchester City in 2023. Across all competitions, he has scored 91 goals in 138 appearances. He was part of the squads that won the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2024-25 UEFA Conference League.
Speaking after signing, Palmer said: "When I spoke to the owners, the sporting directors and, of course, the coach, they gave me a lot of belief, so signing made sense. Talking to the players, everyone shares the same ambition. I feel we can win major trophies here on a consistent basis."
Chelsea is pursuing a strategy of tying down both established stars and young talent to long deals. Forward Joao Pedro recently signed until 2034, while winger Pedro Neto agreed a six-year contract last month.
A day earlier, head coach Xabi Alonso said Palmer remains committed to playing for England, after the player drew criticism for missing the most recent international window through injury. Palmer had been left out of this year's World Cup squad after a persistent groin problem affected his form, but was called up by Thomas Tuchel for Nations League matches against Spain, Czechia and Croatia. He was forced to withdraw after the injury flared up again, prompting Tuchel to say the midfielder had "missed too many opportunities" to play for England.
Asked about Tuchel's comments, Alonso told reporters: "The most important thing for Cole is to be fully fit, to enjoy the game, to feel good. When he isn't, as in the Brentford match, we saw him struggling. He is committed, but he needs to be fully fit to play. We need him — both the club and the national team. Right now he's fine. This week he has felt better. We spent the first two weeks letting him recover. Part of the issue comes from the groin pain he has been dealing with."
Chelsea is 10th in the Premier League and was due to host 17th-placed Bournemouth later on Saturday.
