AFCON 2025
Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer has withdrawn from the England squad due to a muscle injury.
Palmer was left out of Chelsea’s matchday squad for Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal after failing a fitness test, having previously dealt with illness.
Following the London derby, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca revealed that Palmer had sustained a muscular problem during Saturday’s pre-match training session.
🚨🏴 Official: Cole Palmer remains with Chelsea for further assessment on an injury sustained in club training last week.
He won’t be part of England squad. pic.twitter.com/nykDT1xXat
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 18, 2025
A Chelsea statement read: “Cole Palmer has returned to Chelsea from the England camp following the injury he sustained in training on Saturday. Palmer did not feature in Sunday’s defeat at Arsenal because of what Enzo Maresca described as a muscular problem sustained in the build-up to the game.”
Palmer will miss England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, and will continue his recovery at Cobham instead.
In his absence, England manager Thomas Tuchel will rely on the creative talents of Morgan Gibbs-White and Jude Bellingham to support Harry Kane.
