The prestigious PFA Young Player of the Year Award is almost upon us, and the jury is still out on who should win the award after a truly grueling and entertaining 2023/2024 Premier League season. While it’s hard to make a call on who will win the award on Tuesday 20th August, one lad that has proven himself as a worthy contender for the gong is Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
The former city star who took the English league by storm last season leads an impressive list that contains, last year’s winner, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Manchester United’s starlet Kobbie Mainoo, and Brighton breakout star, Joao Pedro. Other contenders include Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United and Bayern Munich’s new star Michael Olise (nominated for his impressive season with Crystal Palace last season.)
Why is Palmer the Favorite?
The members of the PFA have spoken, putting Palmer firmly in the PFA Young Player of the Year nominees list. Many also consider him one of the favorites for the award, which begs the question, why? The answer seems to lie in his exceptional ability to change the fortune of his teams. We all saw how he came on for England at the Euro 2024 final and scored an amazing goal. Of course, Cole Palmer’s nomination was due to his performance this past season where he exerted his influence on the Chelsea team and rescued their season.
His creative flair, vision and goal scoring ability were also part of the reasons why nearly everyone has his name on their tongue. During the previous season, he orchestrated the Chelsea attack with aplomb and constantly unlocked opposition defenses with his clever movements. Players from the other teams probably understand his influence, which is why he has been nominated for the prestigious award as a reward for such a stellar season.
A look at his statistics will show you how great of a season he had with Chelsea last year. For one, Cole Palmer was impressive in front of goal and almost gave Erling Halaand a run for his money in the Golden boot race with his 22 goals tally. But that’s not all, he was also one of the top creators as he was able to bag 17 assists, and he did all these within 33 matches. In fact, most Chelsea fans applaud his contribution to saving them from a terrible season with his top notch performances.
These stellar performances earned him so much praise and accolades. He has already won the Chelsea Players’ Player of the Season and the Chelsea Player of the Season awards. He has also won the Premier League Fans’ Player of the Season. These accolades show that both the fans and his teammates acknowledge his efforts and talent. So, it’s just about right if he is considered one of the favorites for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Many fans even think he should be winning the main award, PFA Player of the Season.
Palmer's Rise to Prominence
The journey to being nominated for the PFA Young Player of Year Award didn’t come easy for Cole Palmer. He had to take the full length journey to get to the top, and it all started at Manchester City’s youth academy.
After a promising start in the City academy where Palmer impressed coaches and scouts, he was drafted into the first team settings, making his debut for Manchester City in 2020, and going on to feature for the Cityzens in 19 matches within three years. However his big break came when he made the move to Chelsea in September of 2023.
He went on to establish himself as an important member of the team, scoring critical goals and providing game changing assists all season. Apart from scoring a late equalizer against his former team in a 4-4 thriller at Stamford Bridge, Palmer also scored a memorable hat trick against Manchester United, netting the last of the three goals in the 11th minute of stoppage time to help Chelase win the game 4-3 and send the fans at Stamford Bridge into frenzy.
Conclusion
Cole Palmer's exceptional performances, impressive statistics, and accolades make a compelling case for him to win the PFA Young Player of the Year Award. His swift rise showcases maturity, consistency, and inspirational talent. Recognition as the PFA Young Player of the Year on 20th August at Manchester Opera House will cement his status as one of the Premier League's most exciting young players, and probably take him to the next level.