Chelsea announced the extension on Saturday. It adds one more year to the contract Palmer signed in 2024, which had run until 2033.
He was 21 when he joined from Manchester City in August 2023 for £42.5m. Three seasons later he has 91 goal contributions in 138 appearances for Chelsea, and the club have added the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup to the trophy cabinet in that time.
“Chelsea means a lot to me and I think the club is going in the right direction, so I’m delighted to sign and I’m obviously very happy,” he said.
Palmer put the ownership and the sporting directors at the centre of the choice.
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“Speaking to the owners, to the sporting directors and obviously the manager, they gave me a lot of confidence so it was only right to sign.”
Alonso adds a fitness caveat
Xabi Alonso welcomed the news but attached a caveat.
“Absolutely. He’s committed, but he needs to be fully fit to play. And when he’s fully fit, he will enjoy his minutes.”
Palmer withdrew from England’s recent Nations League camp with a groin injury, and England head coach Thomas Tuchel said publicly that the forward “misses way too many camps with injuries”.
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A trophy pitch from the dressing room
The length puts Palmer alongside Erling Haaland, Joao Pedro and Geovany Quenda at the top of the Premier League’s long-term contracts, and means he will almost certainly be at Chelsea through his peak years rather than take on a move elsewhere.
He framed the decision as a bet on silverware.
“Speaking to players as well, everyone has the same ambitions. I feel like we win major trophies here consistently and I want to be a part of that and play a big role in it too.”
Palmer has four goals in seven Premier League games this season and picked up an assist in a 5-1 win at Bournemouth hours after the contract was confirmed.
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