:”I begged him to come to Chelsea and enjoy top-quality football, but he still chose to join Arsenal – ‘Trophyless FC.’ It hurts because he’s my best friend during international duty,” says Cole Palmer, expressing disappointment as another England international is expected to sign with Arsenal this summer
In a candid moment during a recent press conference, Chelsea star Cole Palmer opened up about his frustration over an impending transfer involving one of his closest friends. The young England international revealed that he had personally urged his international teammate to choose Chelsea over Arsenal this summer — but his efforts fell short.
“I begged him to come to Chelsea and enjoy top-quality football, but he still chose to join Arsenal — ‘Trophyless FC,’” Palmer said, half-joking but visibly disappointed. “It hurts because he’s my best friend during international duty.”
Though Palmer didn’t officially name the player, insiders close to the England camp suggest it’s one of the country’s rising stars, heavily linked with a move to the Emirates in recent weeks. Arsenal have been actively pursuing homegrown talent this window, with Mikel Arteta aiming to strengthen his squad for another title challenge.
Palmer’s comments sparked a lively reaction among fans and pundits, with Chelsea supporters rallying behind their playmaker and Arsenal fans firing back on social media, claiming the Gunners are now a more attractive destination under Arteta’s project.
Despite the friendly rivalry, Palmer made it clear there’s no bad blood between them off the pitch. “We’ll always be boys when we link up for England, but club football’s a different game. It’s personal now when we meet in the league,” he laughed.
This adds a new layer of intrigue to the upcoming Premier League season, as Chelsea and Arsenal’s rivalry heats up both on and off the pitch. With the summer window in full swing, all eyes are now on the official confirmation of this much-discussed transfer — and the inevitable showdown between Palmer and his friend in London derbies to come.