Cole Palmer breaks Chelsea record held by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink since 2001
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Cole Palmer etched his name in Chelsea’s history books on Thursday, becoming the club’s top Premier League goal scorer in a calendar year.
The 21-year-old England international netted his 26th league goal of 2024 during Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham at Stamford Bridge.
A Record-Breaking Moment
Palmer’s moment of brilliance came in the 16th minute. Dancing past three Fulham defenders, he slotted the ball past goalkeeper Bernd Leno with composure, surpassing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s record of 25 goals in 2001.
Cole gets his 26th #PL goal of the calendar year. #CFC | #CHEFUL pic.twitter.com/vjd0aMB79u
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 26, 2024
Hasselbaink, who was present as a pundit for Amazon Prime Video, praised Palmer, saying,
The boy deserves it. This record has stood for a long time, and there’s no better player than Palmer to break it.
The Match’s Turning Point
Despite Palmer’s historic strike, Chelsea couldn’t hold onto their lead.
Fulham equalized in the 82nd minute through Harry Wilson and completed the comeback in stoppage time when Rodrigo Muniz found the back of the net, handing Fulham a memorable 2-1 victory.
Palmer’s Influence This Season
Palmer has been instrumental to Chelsea’s strong performances under manager Enzo Maresca.
With 12 goals and six assists in the 2024-25 season, he has amassed an impressive 51 goal contributions in 51 appearances since joining the Blues from Manchester City in August 2023.
Manager’s Remarks
Enzo Maresca acknowledged Palmer’s record-breaking achievement but lamented his team’s defensive lapses.
Cole has been fantastic all year. His quality and consistency are exceptional. But tonight, we failed to capitalize on our advantage and paid the price.
Fulham manager Marco Silva hailed his side’s resilience:
To come here and win for the first time in decades is a testament to our belief and teamwork. The boys showed tremendous character.
What’s Next?
Chelsea remain second in the league, trailing Liverpool, while Fulham’s win bolsters their push for European qualification.
For Palmer, the record is a testament to his rising stardom, even as Chelsea reflect on a missed opportunity to strengthen their title challenge.