Cole Palmer claims that after being offered more first-team opportunities at Chelsea, he took the “tough” decision to leave Manchester City.
Before making his debut as a substitute in the Blues’ 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest before the international break, the England Under-21 forward unexpectedly agreed to a £40 million transfer to West London on the final day of the transfer window.
Despite a strong start to the season for City, in which he scored in both the Community Shield and Super Cup, his move resulted.
The academy graduate concluded that leaving City after 13 years and moving to the capital would be the best step for his career after scoring the game-winning goal against Sevilla in Athens last month.
The 21-year-old Palmer claimed: “I’m not claiming I avoided the competition [for spots at City] because I’ve never done that.
“I’d been there [in the first team’s vicinity] for a few years, and I wanted more of an opportunity to play — in my position and to have more of an impact.
“It was a significant choice. I knew I was flying to London the next day when I left the training facility on Thursday.
“I simply had it all strike me as I was getting into the car to leave. You’ve been here for 15 years, I was just thinking.
I am unaware of any other options. Never have I received a loan. I have never left Manchester.
“I’ve only ever traveled outside of Manchester for vacations or away games. Even though going there feels strange, there is no time to waste. I need to act quickly.
He said, “Chelsea described the proposal, and I liked the project. I believe I can make a difference.
It’s barely been two days since I arrived. I didn’t experience it yet because I only played on Saturday after training on Friday. I’ll develop a better sense of it.
