Century up: Palmer drives 30% of Chelsea goals
Cole Palmer is set to reach a major career milestone as the England international prepares for his 100th appearance for Chelsea in Wednesday's Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.
The 23-year-old, who joined from Manchester City three seasons ago, has quickly established himself as one of the club's most influential players.
Palmer's landmark could come just days after featuring in his 99th match for the Blues during the Premier League fixture against Brentford. Since arriving at Stamford Bridge, he has been directly involved in nearly a third of Chelsea's goals since his debut, contributing 44 goals and 28 assists.
In total, the No.10 has played 99 of a possible 115 matches during that period – an 86 per cent involvement rate – with his 72 goal contributions accounting for almost 30 per cent of the team's 242 goals.
Palmer tops both goals and assists charts at Stamford Bridge
His influence dwarfs that of his closest teammates, with former Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson managing 41 contributions before leaving for Bayern Munich, Enzo Fernandez 38, Noni Madueke 25 and Christopher Nkunku 23 – both of whom have since left for Arsenal and AC Milan, respectively.
When looking purely at goals scored, Palmer also leads the charts since his Chelsea debut. His 44 strikes are well ahead of Jackson on 29, Nkunku on 18, Madueke on 18 and Fernandez on 17.
The numbers highlight his consistency and importance on a side that has undergone significant personnel changes during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Beyond the statistics, Palmer has delivered in the moments that matter most. He played a pivotal role in Chelsea's FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Conference League triumphs, producing decisive performances en route to both trophies.
Reaching the 100-game milestone in just three seasons reflects not only his quality but also the trust he has earned from successive managers. For Chelsea, the playmaker has become far more than a rising star – he is the heartbeat of their attack.