Cole Palmer has agreed a fresh Chelsea deal, extending his stay to 2034.
At 24, the England star already had a deal through 2033, but his rise as a key attacker earned him upgraded terms.
Inside the locker room, teammates increasingly see him as a quiet leader.
His contract now ranks among the Premier League’s longest, matched only by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and fellow Blues Joao Pedro and Geovany Quenda.
For my money, Chelsea’s faith in Palmer feels spot‑on; the striker said, “Chelsea means a lot to me and I think the club is heading the right way, so I’m delighted to sign and I’m obviously very happy.”
He added that talks with owners, sporting directors and the manager gave him confidence, making the decision a no‑brainer.
The squad shares the same ambitions, believing the club will keep clinching major trophies and he wants to play a big part.
Palmer’s previous deal arrived just two years ago after his £42.5 million switch from Manchester City in 2023.
The new pact follows Chelsea’s recent wave of extensions aimed at rewarding both established stars and rising talents while keeping the wage bill in check.
Joao Pedro also locked in a deal to 2034 in August, and Pedro Neto secured a six‑year contract last month.
Palmer has clicked with the Brazilian forward and rekindled his on‑field link with his “best friend in football”, Morgan Rogers, early in Xabi Alonso’s tenure.
He was among the few privy to Chelsea’s record‑breaking £117 million pursuit of Rogers from Aston Villa this summer.
So far this season he’s netted four times and set up two goals in seven appearances.
That surge follows a lingering groin niggle last campaign, which he admitted he played through despite probably shouldn’t have.
The fitness woes cost him an England World Cup spot, after he consulted specialists about possible surgery.
Palmer has logged more minutes than any Blues player this term, yet missed England’s recent break, prompting Tuchel to lament he “misses too many opportunities.”
Alonso confirmed Palmer should be fit for Saturday’s clash with Bournemouth and stressed his ongoing commitment to the national side.
“Absolutely. He’s committed, but he needs to be fully fit to play,” the manager said.
“When he’s at 100 %, he’ll relish his minutes. We need him now – both club and country.”
He’s trained all week and feels better, but the staff refused to rush his return.
Chelsea sit 10th after five games, having let in 12 goals. Can they tighten up defensively and climb the table?