Chelsea have officially announced that Cole Palmer will wear the club’s iconic No.10 shirt starting from the 2025/26 season, a move that signals his growing stature at Stamford Bridge — but also raises fresh questions about Mykhailo Mudryk’s future at the club.
Since arriving from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, Palmer has emerged as Chelsea’s creative heartbeat. The 22-year-old England international made an instant impact, picking up the PFA Young Player of the Year award and racking up a combined 37 goals and 22 assists across two electric seasons in blue.
Palmer has worn the No.20 shirt since his arrival but will now step into one of football’s most symbolic squad numbers — previously worn by club legends like Joe Cole, Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, and Christian Pulisic. His new number was confirmed ahead of Chelsea’s participation in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, reinforcing his role as the face of the Blues’ attacking future.
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However, the shift also casts a shadow over the status of Mykhailo Mudryk, who wore the No.10 shirt before his suspension. The Ukrainian winger, signed for a massive £89 million in January 2023, is currently serving a ban after testing positive for the prohibited substance Meldonium. He hasn’t featured in a competitive match since November 2024.
While Mudryk continues to assert his innocence, his case remains unresolved, and he now finds himself without a squad number — a clear indication that he may no longer be part of Chelsea’s immediate or long-term plans. If his suspension mirrors the length of Paul Pogba’s recent ban for a similar offense, the 24-year-old could be sidelined for an extended period.
With Palmer now donning the No.10 and Mudryk’s fate hanging in the balance, Chelsea’s direction under new leadership is becoming increasingly clear — backing players who are not only performing, but fully available.
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