Chelsea star Cole Palmer has revealed that his decision to take the club’s iconic No. 10 shirt was inspired by football legends Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney.
Palmer initially wore the No. 20 jersey after joining Chelsea from Manchester City in the summer of 2023. However, during Chelsea’s recent 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC at the Club World Cup, the 23-year-old was spotted in the new number.
When asked about the switch, Cole Palmer said:
“Messi, the big one, Rooney and players like that. It’s just an iconic number. I wore No. 10 all my life growing up and I just like the number.”
The playmaker takes over the No. 10 shirt from Mykhailo Mudryk, who is currently facing a potential four-year ban following a positive drugs test and subsequent doping charges.
Cole Palmer, who has yet to speak with Mudryk about the change, added:
“I have not spoken to Misha yet but I will when the time is right.”
