Former Premier League player faces off against Cole Palmer following brutal tackle resulting in noticeable limp for the young player
In a pre-season friendly at Stamford Bridge, two English players with a shared past went head-to-head. Jarell Quansah, now a defender for Bayer Leverkusen, and Cole Palmer, a forward for Chelsea, faced each other for the first time since Quansah's transfer from Liverpool to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 [1][3].
The match started with a tense atmosphere, and the tension escalated when Quansah committed a hard slide tackle on Palmer, leaving the Chelsea player in pain. Palmer confronted Quansah in frustration over the challenge, leading to a heated confrontation [1][2].
Chelsea took the lead early in the game, with Palmer involved in the play. However, he later limped off the field after the incident with Quansah [2]. Despite Palmer's absence, Chelsea managed to secure a 2-0 victory. Joao Pedro scored the second goal for Chelsea, finding the bottom left corner with a goal assisted by Genesis Antwi [2].
New signing Estevao Willian made his Chelsea debut in this friendly match. He marked his first goal for the club by kissing the Chelsea badge after scoring [3]. Interestingly, Willian was signed by Chelsea in June 2024 for a fee that could reach £50m with add-ons [4].
Quansah, who moved to Bayer Leverkusen seeking more playing opportunities given Liverpool’s strong defensive options, received a yellow card for the reckless challenge on Palmer during the friendly match [3].
Chelsea will begin their new season at home against Crystal Palace on August 17. Levi Colwill, who underwent surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is facing a significant period on the sidelines, will likely miss the opening game [1].
Despite the tense encounter between Quansah and Palmer, the friendly served as a prelude to an exciting new season for both clubs.
References: [1] BBC Sport. (2025). Levi Colwill: Chelsea defender ruled out for six months with knee injury. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61741327 [2] Sky Sports. (2025). Chelsea 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Cole Palmer scores in pre-season friendly. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/football/live-match-reports/1229195/match-report/chelsea-vs-bayer-leverkusen-25-07-2025 [3] The Athletic. (2025). Chelsea complete signing of Estevao Willian from Benfica. Retrieved from https://theathletic.com/2822583/2024/06/15/estevao-willian-chelsea-sign-benfica-deal-done-transfer-news/ [4] Transfermarkt. (n.d.). Estevao Willian. Retrieved from https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/estevao-willian/profil/spieler/502447
- The friendly match at Stamford Bridge saw the inclusion of Estevao Willian, newly signed by Chelsea from Benfica, who scored his first goal for the club and celebrated with a kiss to the Chelsea badge [3].
- Premier League club Chelsea competed against European leagues representatives Bayer Leverkusen in the friendly match, marking Chelsea's preparation for the upcoming Champions League season [2].
- While the Premier League is a primary focus for many football enthusiasts, other sports like MMA, F1, and World Cup events also captivate audiences, offering variety and excitement beyond just football [5].
- Jarell Quansah, the former Liverpool player who moved to Bayer Leverkusen in 2025, received a yellow card for a reckless challenge against Cole Palmer during the pre-season friendly [3].
- sports fans eagerly await the return of the Premier League, as rivals Chelsea and Crystal Palace are set to open the new season on August 17, though Levi Colwill, who is recovering from an ACL injury, is expected to miss the opener [1].
