Manchester City's Cole Palmer said farewell to his duty, according to Pep Guardiola
**Manchester City's Decision to Sell Cole Palmer to Chelsea: A Mutual Benefit**
Manchester City, the reigning champions of the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League, made a surprising move last summer when they sold one of their own, Cole Palmer, to Chelsea for approximately £42.5 million. The deal, which did not include a buyback clause, marked a significant departure for City, who typically prefer to nurture their homegrown talents.
The decision to let Palmer go was likely due to a combination of factors. With a crowded forward line at City, Palmer's desire for more regular first-team minutes, and Chelsea's willingness to invest in and provide a platform for a young English talent, the move seemed like a logical choice. There were also reports of Palmer's competitive or individualistic attitude in training, but these stories should be taken with caution and do not necessarily represent the club's official rationale for the transfer.
Since joining Chelsea, Palmer has enjoyed a breakout debut season. He has established himself as a key attacking midfielder or winger, known for his dribbling, playmaking, and composure in decisive moments. His impact was recognised with multiple individual honours, including the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.
On the team front, Palmer was instrumental in Chelsea's UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup victories in 2025, being named man of the match in both finals and collecting the Golden Ball at the Club World Cup. At the international level, Palmer has continued to develop, representing England at the senior level after previously excelling for England’s youth teams.
Internally at Chelsea, Palmer is well-regarded, reportedly enjoying a close friendship with defender Tosin Adarabioyo, which suggests he has integrated well into the squad. While the future competitiveness of Chelsea’s starting XI remains under discussion, there’s no question that Palmer’s performances have been central to their recent successes.
As City and Chelsea prepare to face each other at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, the spotlight will be on Palmer, who scored Chelsea's late equaliser against City from the penalty spot in their previous meeting at Stamford Bridge in November. City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that Palmer would have been at Manchester City if he had been given the minutes that Phil Foden received from the beginning, and he believes that people in the world of football recognise the difficulty of City's consistent performance in all competitions for six or seven years.
Guardiola, who has debated whether City are a boring team to watch due to their consistency and dominance in games, is happy for Palmer's move to Chelsea, calling it an "incredible top club." He also accepts the responsibility for not giving Palmer enough minutes at Manchester City and admits that Palmer wanted more minutes than he had last season, understanding his reasons for moving. Guardiola explains that he chose to prioritize Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, and Phil Foden over Palmer, but he is pleased with the level of discussion about his team and acknowledges the difficulty of football and the admirable consistency of his players.
Manchester City's decision to sell Cole Palmer to Chelsea provided the young player with an opportunity to secure regular first-team minutes, something he may not have received at his former club. As Cole Palmer continues to thrive at Chelsea, his performances are testament to the mutual benefit of the transfer.
