'You've got to love him for that' - Cole Palmer's girlfriend Connie Grace lifts lid on 'warm and cuddly' Chelsea star

Wythenshawe native Palmer went public with fellow Mancunian Grace at the 2024 GQ Men of the Year Awards. The England international has known the glamorous nail technician and Instagram influencer for some time, leading to the pair finally getting together.

Grace has told the new Amazon Prime documentary ‘England’s Lions: A New Generation’ of her relationship with Palmer: “We met when we were 17. I think he knew me through mutual friends so I think he probably had his eye on me. Oh, he's warm and cuddly. Well, with me, hopefully with no one else. When you know how much someone wants something and you know that's someone's dream, you just feel so proud..”

Grace added on Palmer’s dedication to his craft, with the 22-year-old playmaker happy to shun the trappings of fame and fortune: “Cole now is still the same Cole that I met when I was 17. Obviously, he's changed, he's grown up, and his life now is completely different, but he's still the same boy, he's still laid-back Cole.

“Cole will adapt to whatever situation he's in. He's not bothered that he's that far from home because all he wants to do is play football and if it means leaving home and being in a place which is completely different to where he's from, he'll do it.

“He's not bothered about the whole fame side of it and he's not bothered what people think of him. He is only just bothered about scoring goals and doing well for his team, doing well for his country, and you've got to love him for that.”

Palmer swapped the North West for west London when leaving Manchester City for Chelsea in 2023. Life in the English capital has been something of a culture shock, but Grace added on the Three Lions star remaining loyal to his roots: “Cole couldn't become a Londoner, are you crazy? Have you ever spoken to him? That accent isn't changing. No, he's a Manchester boy.”

While finding stability in his private life, Palmer has faced the odd question of his form in 2024-25. After setting such high standards in his debut campaign at Chelsea – which helped him to the PFA Young Player of the Year award and England’s Men’s Player of the Year prize – just 14 goals and six assists have been recorded this season.