Chelsea rejects Manchester City’s £149 million offer for Cole Palmer, sets record price
Chelsea has rejected a sensational £149 million (€176 million) offer from Manchester City for star midfielder Cole Palmer, setting a new benchmark in the English transfer market. The 23-year-old, who only joined Chelsea last summer from City for £45 million, is now seen as untouchable at Stamford Bridge.
According to reports from the UK, Pep Guardiola is keen to bring Palmer back to the Etihad Stadium after his breakout 2024/25 season. The £149 million bid (€176M) surpasses any previous domestic transfer offer, even eclipsing the amount Liverpool reportedly offered for Florian Wirtz.
Despite the astronomical proposal, Chelsea immediately rejected it, making it clear they would only entertain an offer close to £250 million (€294 million) a figure that would shatter Neymar’s world-record move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 (€222 million).
Palmer’s Rise and Chelsea’s Firm Stance
Palmer, who came through City’s academy before transferring to Chelsea in 2023, has quickly become a cornerstone of Enzo Maresca’s project. The English midfielder played a decisive role in Chelsea’s Club World Cup triumph, where he was named Player of the Tournament.
With a contract running until June 2033, Chelsea has no financial or sporting incentive to sell the player. Club sources describe Palmer as “non-transferable”, and fans have rallied behind him as one of the new faces of the team’s revival.
Guardiola Reinforces City with Rayan Cherki
While Chelsea stands firm, Manchester City is already reinforcing its attack. With Kevin De Bruyne’s departure, the club recently signed Rayan Cherki and will rely on a deep squad that includes Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Oscar Bobb, and new captain Bernardo Silva.
However, Guardiola’s interest in Palmer persists, signaling he may not be done in the market just yet although Chelsea’s valuation makes a deal increasingly unlikely.
