Palmer takes No.10 as Chelsea erase Mudryk from the picture

The club confirmed the number change in a brief statement this week, with no mention of previous holder Mykhailo Mudryk, who remains suspended from football following a failed drugs test.

Palmer, 23, has quickly become a fan favourite since arriving from Manchester City in a £40 million deal in 2023. His first full season in blue saw him scoop both Chelsea's Player of the Season and Premier League breakthrough honours, firmly establishing himself as the creative heartbeat of the team.

The decision to award him the No.10 shirt — traditionally reserved for the side's most influential playmaker — is a clear signal of trust from the club.

Mudryk, once the club's £89 million marquee signing, has been quietly stripped of the number following a turbulent spell in west London. Chelsea made no reference to the Ukrainian winger in their announcement, instead focusing solely on Palmer's ascension, which begins with the Club World Cup in the United States later this month.

Palmer is expected to debut the No.10 jersey when Chelsea face Los Angeles FC in Atlanta on 16 June.