Unbelievable: Cole Palmer reportedly missed out on a huge bonus due to a contract blunder
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has reportedly missed out on a significant financial windfall due to a contract oversight. The 21-year-old, who made a £42.5million switch from Manchester City to Chelsea in the summer, reportedly failed to negotiate a goal bonus clause in his contract.
Despite scoring four times in Monday night’s 6-0 victory over Everton, bringing his season tally to 23, Palmer hasn’t earned any additional money for his goal-scoring exploits. The young star turned heads when he inked a seven-year deal with the Blues after making the switch from the Etihad in the summer. His new contract was reportedly worth £80,000-a-week.
However, unlike most top strikers, The Sun reports that Palmer did not insist on a clause that would reward him financially for each goal scored. Given his current form, this decision may have cost him a substantial sum.
Palmer’s performance at Stamford Bridge on Monday marked the first time a player has netted four times in a single Premier League match since Kevin de Bruyne achieved the same feat against Wolves in May 2022. Adding to the spectacle, Palmer’s first-half hat-trick was a ‘perfect’ one – he opened the scoring with his left foot, headed home for his second, and added a third from long-range with his right.
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin has high praise for the young talent, as he shared with Grosvenor Casinos: “You have a look back at the likes of Kevin De Bruyne when he was at Cole Palmer’s age, was he as good?
“Was he at the top level in the Premier League scoring 20 goals? I’m not saying he’s going to be a better player than Kevin De Bruyne, but he’s got what it takes. He’s absolutely got what it takes to be one of the very best in the business.”
Palmer has matched his goal-scoring prowess with that of ex-teammate Erling Haaland this season, both vying for the Golden Boot with a tally of 20 goals each. However, Palmer’s Chelsea have a game in hand over the current league leaders, giving him an edge in the race.
This Saturday presents another chance for Palmer to showcase his skills against his former club City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Last year, he watched from the bench as City clinched a 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the final.
Palmer’s nerve under pressure was evident back in November when he slotted home a 95th-minute penalty to secure a thrilling 4-4 draw against United. His flawless record this season sees him having converted all nine penalties in the league, trailing only behind Yaya Toure’s impeccable 11 out of 11 in the Premier League.
