Cole Palmer beats Drogba, Costa to new Chelsea record
Cole Palmer continues to carve his name into Chelsea folklore, becoming the second-fastest player in the club’s history to score 30 Premier League goals.
The 22-year-old midfielder achieved the feat in just 46 appearances, trailing only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who needed 41 games to reach the same milestone.
Palmer’s latest accomplishment came during Chelsea’s stylish 3-0 win over Aston Villa, where he not only scored but also provided an assist, earning the Man of the Match award.
Since his £40 million move from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, Palmer has been a revelation, registering 33 goals and 21 assists across all competitions.
In his debut season, Palmer netted 22 Premier League goals, finishing second only to Erling Haaland in the league’s scoring charts.
This season, he has already tallied eight goals in just 13 appearances.
Palmer’s scoring pace puts him ahead of Chelsea icons Diego Costa and Didier Drogba, who reached 30 Premier League goals in 48 and 67 games, respectively.
Despite comparisons to these legendary strikers, Palmer has claimed he is focused on personal and team development rather than individual awards.
Palmer’s influence goes beyond scoring. Since his debut, he has been involved in 47 goals—more than any other Premier League player during the same period.
With six league games left in 2024, he is just three goal contributions shy of breaking Hasselbaink’s club record of 36 in a calendar year, set in 2001.
