Cole Palmer has described why he decided to leave everything he knew behind and relocate to London to join Chelsea in the summer.

It was a controversial move in certain quarters. Cole Palmer had won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League last season, and had scored in both the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup at the start of the current season at the end of August.

However, following his success with Manchester City, where he had spent his whole career up to that point, Palmer opted to leave the Etihad for Stamford Bridge by joining Chelsea.

It was never going to be an easy decision for the forward to leave the city where he was born and raised, and the club where he had played since Under-8s, but he explained why he believed it was necessary to grow in his career.

“It happened fast to be fair,” Palmer recalls. “I spoke to someone at Chelsea and I was speaking to my dad, but I really didn’t know what to do.

I was thinking about it for a couple of days, every minute of the day, and then I thought for my career I have to go and get regular game time.

It was a big move for me. I’d never been out of Manchester, not even on loan or anything like that, so to move down here on my own was a big thing.”

So far, the choice has been justified, as Palmer has settled into life with the Blues this season. Cole’s form has been rewarded with his first call-up to the senior England squad for this week’s international break, having started our past six Premier League games and scored four goals and two assists in his last five outings in the competition.

Reflecting on his fantastic start to his Chelsea career, the forward emphasized the role of head coach Mauricio Pochettino in allowing him to play his natural game and showcase his entire range of talents.

“A lot of people told me how he is with young players and ever since I went to Chelsea I can see it,” he added. “So I’m enjoying working with him and I’m excited to carry on working with him.

I am a player who always wants the ball, anywhere, to try and help the team get out of a difficult situation or create a chance.

He has given me the confidence and licence to go where I want on the pitch, where I feel I can use my strengths, so I’m grateful for it.”

Pochettino has previously stated that he expects Palmer to improve on his already great performances in the future. It will be exciting to see him live up to his potential in a Chelsea shirt when he returns, ideally as a fully fledged England international, for our next Premier League fixture against Newcastle United.