Palmer withdraws from England squad

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer has pulled out of the England squad with a minor injury.

The 24-year-old was last week recalled by boss Thomas Tuchel, having been left out of England’s World Cup squad.

England host World Cup winners Spain at Wembley on Saturday 26 September. They then play away to the Czech Republic on 29 September and Croatia on 3 October, before facing the Czechs at home on 6 October.

But Palmer will miss all four matches.

Palmer played the whole of Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Friday. After a summer off following his World Cup omission, he has started six of Chelsea’s seven games this season and completed 90 minutes in five of them. He has scored four goals and set up two.

He was troubled by a recurring groin problem in 2025-26.

Palmer’s last England appearance was in the 1-0 friendly defeat by Japan in March.