What is Cole Palmer's goal celebration? Origins of Chelsea star's 'cold' pose is from bond with 'scary' Aston Villa player
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Cole Palmer has enjoyed a record-breaking 2024 for club and country but is just as synonymous with his hands as he is with his feet.
The 22-year-old’s goalscoring heroics helped him bag the PFA Young Player of the Year as well as generate an army of fans with his now custom celebration.
A £40million arrival from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, nine-cap international Palmer has made a mockery of his price tag.
His 22 Premier League goals last season equalled Chelsea legend Frank Lampard's best-ever scoring season for the Blues.
And his signature celebration has since gone global, having been on show in England’s 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
He also showed it off four times in one half in a 4-2 win against Brighton, as he made Premier League history for Chelsea, with his incredible form continuing this season.
So Palmer is now synonymous with the ‘shiver’ or ‘cold’ pose after scoring, which sees him rub his arms as if feeling the winter weather.
It’s since been emulated by Olympian Letsile Tebogo, who won the men’s 200-metre gold in Paris, and £56million future Chelsea star Estevao Willian.
His cool composure in front of goal has also earned him the nickname ‘Cold Palmer’ – a play on his first name – referencing the slang use of the word cold, meaning awesome.
Where does Palmer's goal celebration come from?
Palmer first did his ‘cold’ gesture after scoring two goals in a 3-2 win over Luton Town at the end of December.
His Chelsea teammate Noni Madueke told TNT Sports after the match: “That’s why they call him ‘Cold Palmer’, innit?”
Palmer himself revealed that it was actually a nod to his former Manchester City academy team-mate Morgan Rogers.
Aston Villa ace Rogers was at the time playing for Middlesbrough and had done the celebration after scoring a winner against West Bromwich Albion in the Championship a week earlier.
Palmer admitted: “My boy Morgs did one for Middlesbrough, so I told him I'd do it too if I scored.”
He then continued his electric goalscoring form in 2024 and soon the celebration became synonymous with him.
Rogers joined his close friend in the Premier League after arriving at Villa the following month and the pair shared a pitch when Unai Emery‘s side drew 2-2 with the Blues in April.
The former scored his side’s second goal of the game against Chelsea and was accused of copying Palmer when he did the ‘cold’ pose.
However, discussing the moment afterwards, Rogers insisted: “He definitely copied me. It's my celebration. Check the timeline, I did it first.”
Rogers continued: “He's one of my closest friends in life. I couldn't be more proud of him. He's showing everyone what I knew he could do two or three years ago.”
Rogers has enjoyed a breakthrough start to the 2024/25 season, with Aston Villa captain John McGinn hailing his progress as ‘scary’.
The 22-year-old netted during Villa’s clash with Ipswich at Portman Road, pulling off the ‘cold’ celebration after scoring.
However, regardless of Rogers’ form, Palmer has already joked during an interview with talkSPORT about who is the real owner.
“We’ve [him and Rogers] had a chat about this,” Palmer said during Euro 2024. “He knows I did it and it took off.
“Everyone knows it’s my celebration. He [Rogers] might have done it, but everybody knows is my celebration.”
“The two young lads who signed for Chelsea have done it [Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez]… They’re not taking it, they’re just joining in… it’s nice,” Palmer went on.
