He Took Mudryk’s Jersey — What Cole Palmer Said About the No.10 Will SHOCK You!
Cole Palmer has revealed the reason behind his decision to switch to the iconic No. 10 jersey at Chelsea — a number previously worn by Mykhailo Mudryk.
After joining the Blues from Manchester City during the 2023 summer transfer window, Palmer initially wore the No. 20 shirt. He made an instant impact, recording an impressive 25 goals and 15 assists in his debut season and earning the Premier League Young Player of the Season award for 2023/24.
Despite a noticeable dip in performance the following season, Palmer helped guide Chelsea to a UEFA Conference League triumph, continuing to wear the No. 20 shirt — a number once worn by names like Callum Hudson-Odoi, Victor Moses, Deco, and Paulo Ferreira.
The Switch to No. 10
Ahead of the 2025/26 season, Chelsea confirmed Palmer would now wear the No. 10 jersey. He debuted the number during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over LAFC at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Palmer explained the personal motivation behind the switch:
“I wore No. 10 growing up and I’ve always liked the number,” he said in an interview with Chelsea.com. “Lionel Messi is the obvious one — he’s the standout No.10 — but also players like Wayne Rooney. It’s such an iconic number in football.”
Palmer took over the shirt from Mykhailo Mudryk, who had previously worn it. The Ukrainian winger is currently facing charges from the FA related to anti-doping violations.
Legacy of Chelsea’s No. 10 Shirt
Palmer now joins a legendary list of Chelsea players who’ve worn the No.10 — including Eden Hazard, Willian, Juan Mata, Joe Cole, and Mark Hughes. He also addressed recent comments about playing too safely:
“We joked about it. It wasn’t aimed at the manager or anyone,” Palmer said. “I just felt like I was playing a bit safe in matches. That’s where that came from.”
Chelsea’s 2025/26 Season Opener
Chelsea will kick off their Premier League campaign at Stamford Bridge on August 17 against Crystal Palace. They’ll then face West Ham, Fulham, Brentford, and Manchester United in the opening weeks.
With UEFA Champions League football back on the schedule and expectations rising under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea face a defining season ahead.
Title Race Prediction
According to a recent report by TUKO.co.ke, a football supercomputer has tipped Liverpool to win the 2025/26 Premier League title. Manchester City and Arsenal are predicted to follow, while Manchester United and Tottenham could surprisingly finish 14th and 15th respectively.
