Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer has addressed his trademarked goal celebration and his relationship with new teammate Morgan Rogers following the latter’s high-profile transfer to the London club. Speaking from Sydney FC’s training ground, the 24-year-old revealed he has officially registered his distinctive celebration with the Intellectual Property Office. “I’ve trademarked it so if he tries to do anything, he’ll have the bailiffs at his door,” Palmer joked, before adding that they have yet to formally discuss sharing the celebration.
Rogers, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa in a £117 million deal, is a close friend of Palmer’s dating back to their time together at the Manchester City academy. Palmer described their different playing styles, noting Rogers is more physical and likes to drive with the ball, while he himself focuses on playmaking and passing. The midfielder expressed enthusiasm about working together again and praised Chelsea’s recent signing as a “next-level” acquisition.
Palmer also touched on his disappointment at missing out on Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the recent World Cup, in which England reached the semi-finals before being eliminated by Argentina. He said the snub has motivated him to work harder but added that he is currently more focused on the upcoming club season with Chelsea than on international ambitions. “I’m just looking forward to the season with Chelsea,” he said.
The summer break offered Palmer an unusual opportunity for rest, describing seven weeks off—the longest in his professional career—as both refreshing and somewhat unfamiliar. Reflecting on the downtime, he admitted to getting bored during his holiday but ultimately relished being able to reset physically and mentally after several demanding years filled with international tournaments and club fixtures.
Palmer also spoke about his recovery from a groin injury that disrupted his 2025-26 campaign, when Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League and failed to qualify for European competition. He recounted considering surgery and seeking expert advice from Scandinavia but ultimately choosing conservative treatment. Now fit and ready to return, Palmer said his new manager, Xabi Alonso, envisions him playing in a No. 10 role, positioned close to the striker.
Alonso, who took over as Chelsea manager this season, has maintained communication with Palmer during the midfielder’s period of uncertainty and injury, offering reassurance following Palmer’s World Cup omission. Palmer described the new coaching staff’s ideas as “a breath of fresh air” and expressed optimism about the season ahead, especially with Chelsea’s recent signings. “When you sign good players, your team is going to be better. It should be a good season,” he said.