Cole Palmer now one of the brightest young stars at Chelsea FC has revealed that the finest footballer he’s ever shared a dressing room with was unluckily allowed to leave Chelsea.
Cole Palmer: “De Bruyne Is Better Than Anyone I’ve Played With”
In a recent interview on TikTok for JD Sports, Palmer named Kevin De Bruyne as the best player he’s ever played alongside.
Palmer spent a short spell at Manchester City, where he had the chance to play with De Bruyne.
Though their time together was limited, the young Chelsea forward says even those few appearances left a lasting impression.
Palmer pointed out that while he has quickly established himself as a key figure at Chelsea, De Bruyne remains in a league of his own.
Chelsea famously signed De Bruyne back in 2012 reportedly for around £7 million only to sell him to VfL Wolfsburg 18 months later for roughly £18 million.
The move stands as one of the club’s biggest “what ifs,” especially given how the Belgian midfielder’s career soared afterward.
Since joining Chelsea in 2023, Palmer has flourished, becoming one of the Premier League’s most exciting talents.
Despite his own rise, he is candid enough to declare that his former City teammate remains the best player he’s ever played with — a statement that underlines just how highly he thinks of De Bruyne.
Asked about the toughest opponent he’s faced, Palmer singled out Virgil van Dijk from Liverpool FC.
And when asked which legend he’d like to play with if given the chance, he picked Wayne Rooney — showing admiration beyond club loyalties.
With his talent, cool head, and now bold words of praise for De Bruyne, Palmer continues to shape a distinct legacy at Chelsea — one that acknowledges the past even while building for the future.
