Diving Deep Into Cole Palmer’s Family Life & Background-Girlfriend, Parents, Ethnicity, Net Worth 2025 & More originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Cole Palmer is leading Chelsea’s young squad in the Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain. The attacking midfielder has quickly become one of the Premier League’s top playmakers since his move from Manchester City to Chelsea.
Advertisement
From the Manchester City’s academy to the first team
Cole Jermaine Palmer was born on May 6, 2002, in Wythenshawe, Manchester. He joined Manchester City’s academy at age eight and climbed through the ranks to captain the under-18s in the 2019–20 season.
He made his senior debut on September 30, 2020, in an EFL Cup match against Burnley, and scored his first goal for the first team a year later against Wycombe. That same month, he netted in the Champions League against Club Brugge after coming off the bench, signaling his growing role in Pep Guardiola’s plans.
Between 2020 and 2023, Palmer made 41 appearances for Manchester City across all competitions, scoring six goals and assisting two. He was part of the squad that won the 2022–23 treble—Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Advertisement
Despite flashes of quality, his minutes were limited due to the depth of City’s squad. Even after Riyad Mahrez left, Palmer was not guaranteed a consistent starting spot, and conversations with Guardiola made it clear that opportunities would remain competitive. He didn’t want to leave City, but the club didn’t make it easy for him.
The move to Chelsea
On September 1, 2023, Palmer made a deadline-day move to Chelsea in a deal worth around £40 million. He signed a seven-year contract, with an option for an additional year. The timing of the transfer left little room for goodbyes, and Palmer later admitted he left City by text. While he had spent over a decade at the club, the decision was driven by the desire to play regularly.
Advertisement
At Chelsea, Palmer immediately stepped into a larger role. In his debut 2023–24 season, he scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists in 33 Premier League appearances. Across all competitions, he finished with 27 goals and 15 assists. He became the first Chelsea player aged 21 or under to hit those numbers in a single season.
Honors in the Premier League
His performances earned him the Premier League Young Player of the Season award, Players’ Player of the Season at Chelsea, and the Game Changer of the Season title. Notably, he scored four goals in the first half against Everton and repeated the feat against Manchester United.
Advertisement
His production has carried over into the 2024–25 season. By mid-season, he had already added six more league goals and was instrumental in Chelsea’s run at the Club World Cup, scoring in the semi-final against Palmeiras.
Stats in the Premier League
Statistically, Palmer has recorded 37 goals and 19 assists in 70 Premier League matches for Chelsea. Since his debut for the club, no Premier League player has registered more goal contributions than him—43 in just 40 league appearances.
Though some critics questioned the manner of his departure from City and his interactions with former teammates, the move to Chelsea has elevated his career. He left Manchester with medals and experience. In London, he found opportunity and the space to grow into one of the Premier League’s most decisive attacking players.
Advertisement
Personal life
Cole Palmer is dating Connie Grace, a 22-year-old influencer and professional nail technician from Manchester. They first went public as a couple in November 2024. The pairing made its official debut at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in London later that year.
Cole Palmer’s heritage reflects both English and Caribbean roots. On his father’s side, he is of Afro-Kittitian descent—his grandfather, Sterry Cole, emigrated from Saint Kitts and Nevis in the 1960s, and his family lineage traces back to the Windrush generation.
This connection is often represented by the presence of both the English and St. Kitts & Nevis flags on his match-day boots. On his mother’s side, Palmer is English, giving him a mixed ethnicity of White British and Black Caribbean heritage.
Advertisement
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.