Eden Hazard’s Chelsea legacy now shadows Cole Palmer as the 24-year-old faces a defining 2026-27 season under new manager Xabi Alonso, with the Belgian’s 110-goal Stamford Bridge haul setting the standard for Palmer’s next step.
What went wrong for Cole Palmer?
Palmer’s second Chelsea campaign ended with just 18 goals across all competitions, down from his 25-goal debut after a £40 million ($54m) move from Manchester City in summer 2023. Injuries—including a groin complaint and broken toe—kept him out for 26 games, crippling his momentum. England boss Thomas Tuchel left him out of the 2026 World Cup squad, and transfer talk flared despite a 2033 contract extension.
Why Eden Hazard’s Chelsea past matters now
Eden Hazard scored 110 goals for Chelsea between 2012 and 2019, winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League. Ex-Chelsea striker Christophe Cascarino—speaking on behalf of Tonybet’s World Cup Card Collection campaign—told GOAL that Palmer needs “people around him” like Hazard had, citing Gary McAllister’s free-transfer arrival at 35 to back Stevie Gerrard at Liverpool. Cascarino added: “Chelsea haven’t been very good, and Palmer’s dip lines up with that.”
Can Palmer rise again like Hazard did?
Hazard’s seven-year Stamford Bridge tenure peaked after early struggles, but Palmer’s 2026-27 opener—a derby at Fulham on August 24—marks his first real chance to prove himself under Alonso. Alonso’s side opens with a London derby, a fixture Hazard often dominated. Palmer’s flashes of brilliance remain, but consistency is now the target.
What comes next for Chelsea and Palmer?
Chelsea’s new era under Alonso begins with a derby, a stage Hazard once owned. Palmer’s contract runs to 2033, but his 2026-27 form will decide if he joins Hazard and Gianfranco Zola in Stamford Bridge lore—or fades like his injury-hit 2025-26 season.