The Chelsea player has had a breakthrough season in English football, winning yet another individual honor.
Cole Palmer has been given an award for his role in Chelsea’s stunning comeback in their 4-3 win against Man United at Stamford Bridge in April (Image: Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
The 2023–24 Castrol Game Changer of the Season award, which goes to the player who has had the most game-changing performances throughout the season, has gone to Cole Palmer of Chelsea.
The 21-year-old defeated a six-person shortlist that included Kevin De Bruyne and Stefan Ortega of Manchester City, Darwin Nunez of Liverpool, Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, and Scott McTominay of Manchester United.
Both the general public and a panel of football experts gave him the most votes for his hat-trick against Man United in the thrilling 4-3 victory back in April. With just two minutes remaining in stoppage time of the second half, he and his teammates found themselves 3-2 down after he had scored a penalty in the first half to give the Blues a 2-0 lead.
Palmer had to wait a long time for the penalty after Noni Madueke’s brilliant run past Diogo Dalot resulted in his downfall and a penalty that United players surrounded referee Jarred Gillett. But in the end, it was calmly dispatched to Andre Onana’s left, bringing the score to 3-3.
A minute later, the Blues had a great chance to win it all from a corner, but Palmer was free on the edge of the area and the ball was played short to him. With 100 minutes and 41 seconds remaining, Chelsea led and was ahead after a stunning comeback that saw his shot deflect off McTominay and go past Onana. This is the latest comeback in Premier League history.
Palmer has now won his eighth individual award of the season after winning the London Football Awards Men’s Young Player of the Year, Chelsea’s Player of the Season and Player’s Player of the Season awards, the Premier League Player of the Month: April 2024, the Premier League Goal of the Month: April 2024, the Premier League Young Player of the Season, and the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year. Palmer is the third player to win the prize, having previously won it with Reiss Nelson last season and Ilkay Gundogan in 2021/22.
The player has had a breakout season since joining the Blues for £40 million at the beginning of the season, scoring 25 goals and dishing out 15 assists across all competitions, making him one of the Premier League’s best young talents.
