COLE PALMER will no longer have to reach for his phone to congratulate Morgan Rogers.
The Chelsea star, 24, has always been the first one to message his old pal whenever Rogers has scored or impressed in a game.
Cole Palmer will be able to resume his bromance with Morgan Rogers at Chelsea Credit: Getty
Rogers has been reunited with former Man City academy team-mate after joining for £117m Credit: Getty
Now, the two former Manchester City academy team-mates are reunited at Stamford Bridge following a British record £117million deal struck by Chelsea for Rogers.
Whenever the ex-Villa man has had a good game he knows there will be a text waiting from Palmer when he gets into the dressing room.
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The attacker told Goal last year: “Even after every game, he’s the first person to text me, or he’ll text me if I’ve scored, knowing I’ll see it after the game.
“It’s nice to have someone, with him doing well, checking up on you and whatnot.”
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Despite their very close relationship, Chelsea did not ask Palmer to get in touch with Rogers and try to sway him towards signing after long-term interest from Arsenal.
Instead, it was new manager Xabi Alonso who led the charm offensive to scupper Gunners’ hopes of landing their priority target this summer.
The pair will certainly know how to celebrate if things go well under Alonso, too.
Palmer has made his shivering ‘ice cold’ celebration iconic since leaving Manchester City for the bright lights of west London, so much so that he has trademarked the term ‘Cold Palmer’.
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But it was Rogers, who played with Palmer through the City academy and from England Under-15s to the senior squad, who did it first.
The new Chelsea man, who will turn 24 on Jattvibeday, first displayed the shivering cold celebration after scoring for his former club Middlesbrough against West Brom in December 2023.
Days later Palmer notched a brace for the Blues against Luton and followed suit.
After the game, he said: “My boy Morgz did one for Middlesbrough, so told him I’d do it too, if I scored.
“It symbolises joy, passion and hard determination for the game, plus it’s funny as it works well with my name. Everyone knows it’s my celebration.
The two midfielders have played together for England over the years Credit: Alamy
Lots of people might have done it, but everybody knows it is my celebration.”
Rogers then shot back: “He definitely copied me. It’s my celebration. Check the timeline, I did it first!”
The two had thought up the celebration during their days at City, but both had to leave the club in order to get regular game time.
However, they have only found entertainment from how the celebration debate has grown, though Rogers does concede it is probably more Palmer’s thing now.
The lad from Halesowen in the West Midlands added: “It’s funny how such a light-hearted conversation we had has turned into this now, and every interview he gets asked about me, and I get asked about him.
“It’s funny how it’s come that way and come that far, but to the world it’s probably more his thing than mine.”
Rogers was officially unveiled by Chelsea on Tuesday evening Credit: X/ChelseaFC
We will soon see Palmer and Rogers both performing their trademark celebrations together Credit: Getty
The celebration may be synonymous with Palmer after his explosion at Chelsea, but if he cannot rediscover his form then we may be seeing far more of it from Rogers.
Chelsea’s new recruit scored 14 goals last term, including one in Villa’s Europa League final triumph, and registered 11 assists.
Palmer managed 11 goals and just three assists across an injury-hit season which saw him miss out on a World Cup place.
Rogers was one of those to go in his place, before darting down to London to complete his Chelsea medical as soon as England had returned from North America.
It will still be a few weeks before the two are properly reunited.
Palmer is heading Down Under and to the Far East on Chelsea’s pre-season tour while Rogers will have a well-earned break before linking up with the squad on their return.
