Palmer sidelined again as Chelsea prep for Palace clash and eye Napoli trip
25 January 2026
Injury update and lineup notes
Chelsea have confirmed that their star Cole Palmer will miss the upcoming fixture against Crystal Palace on Sunday as they press on with the Premier League schedule.
The Blues left Palmer out of both the starting XI and the substitutes, with manager Liam Rosiniour naming a midfield trio of Andre Santos, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez behind a forward line of Estevao, Pedro Neto, and Joao Pedro.
According to Bobby Vincent of Football London, Palmer's absence stems from a thigh knock; he trained in the past two days, and there is hope he could be fit for the trip to Napoli.
Rosiniour told Sky Sports before kick-off that Palmer is not in a state to participate today. "Unfortunately, Cole isn't in a condition to play today. As I've said before in press conferences, we want everyone 100% ready," he said.
He added, "There is no point risking players in January given our aims. He has a minor thigh niggle and isn't fully match fit, but he has a chance to link up on Wednesday, and we hope he will be back then."
The match details: Premier League, January 25, 2026, at 15:00.
This injury coincides with reports linking Palmer to a potential move to Manchester United, amid rumours of unsettled vibes in London and a longing to return to his home base in Whitechapel.
PUNCHLINE 1: If thigh injuries could request a transfer, Palmer would already be packing for United’s plane.
PUNCHLINE 2: Chelsea’s medical staff must be loving January—it's the only time the bench finally has more players than the injury list.
