Cole Palmer signs new Chelsea contract until 2034 before Bournemouth game

Cole Palmer has signed a new Chelsea contract that runs until 2034, the club announced on Saturday 10 October, hours before Chelsea host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. The England forward is 24, and the deal was confirmed on Chelsea's website with his first comments.

The match against Bournemouth kicks off at 3pm UK time, which is 7pm in Pakistan on Saturday evening, according to the club's preview.

Cole Palmer's Chelsea contract: what changed

Palmer was already under contract until 2033 after an extension the club announced following his first season. The new deal adds another year to that. He joined from Manchester City in August 2023. Chelsea did not publish the financial terms.

Palmer said the club was "going in the right direction" and that talks with the owners, the sporting directors and the manager "gave me a lot of confidence, so it was only right to sign". He also said he wanted to be part of a side that wins "major trophies here consistently" and to play a big role in it.

The numbers behind the deal

The club's own figures show why Chelsea moved again:

• 91 goal contributions in 138 appearances since August 2023.
• 25 goals and 19 assists in 2023/24, his first season, including back-to-back Premier League hat-tricks.
• 14 goal involvements last season, a quieter year by his standards.
• Four goals and two assists in the first seven matches of this season.

He has won the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Conference League with Chelsea, and his individual honours include the Premier League Young Player of the Season, the PFA Young Player of the Year and Chelsea's Player of the Season award, voted by supporters.

Part of a wider long-term plan

Chelsea's owners have built the squad around long contracts. Forward Joao Pedro recently signed a deal through 2034 and winger Pedro Neto agreed a six-year contract last month, Reuters reported via Business Recorder. The club went into the weekend 10th in the Premier League, the same report said, so the short-term priority is climbing the table.

For Chelsea supporters in Pakistan, the long deal settles a question that comes up every transfer window: Palmer is staying. Bournemouth at 7pm PKT tonight is the first chance to see him since he signed. More football and other sport news is on our sports desk.