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The first ODI of the three-ODI, five-T20I tour is set to be played at the Kotambi Stadium

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2025

The January 2026 series is set to be the first meeting between India and New Zealand since the Champions Trophy final in March•ICC/Getty Images

Vadodara is set to host its first men’s international match in more than 15 years during New Zealand’s white-ball tour of India in January 2026. The first ODI on January 11, which kicks off the tour, will take place at the newly built Kotambi Stadium, which has already hosted three Women’s ODIs between India and West Indies in December 2024, as well as six matches during the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL).New Zealand were also involved when Vadodara hosted its last men’s international game, an ODI at the Reliance Stadium in December 2010. Current India head coach Gautam Gambhir scored a Player-of-the-Match-winning century in that game, and Virat Kohli – who has retired from T20Is and Tests but remains an ODI player – an unbeaten 63.New Zealand’s 2025-26 tour of India is set to comprise three ODIs and five T20Is. It is set to be the first meeting between the two sides since India’s victory over New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy in March.After Vadodara, the teams will remain in Gujarat, with Rajkot set to host the second ODI on January 14, before the ODI series concludes in Indore on January 18. This match starts the central-India leg of the tour, with Nagpur (January 21) and Raipur (January 23) to host the first two T20Is.The teams will then move east before travelling southwards to conclude the tour, with Guwahati (January 25), Visakhapatnam (January 28) and Thiruvananthapuram (January 31) hosting the third, fourth and fifth T20Is.As things stand, these five T20Is could be the last ones for India before the start of the T20 World Cup in February-March 2026. New Zealand, meanwhile, are scheduled to play three T20Is against Afghanistan immediately after the India tour.India, winners of the 2024 edition in the West Indies and the USA, are set to co-host the 2026 T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka.

Thomas Frank has sensationally claimed that Tottenham star Archie Gray "has same potential" as Rodri and Declan Rice. Fifteen months after swapping Leeds United for Tottenham Hotspur in a £40 million deal, teenage prodigy Archie Gray is heading back to where it all began. The 19-year-old, once Leeds’ golden boy, has become one of Spurs’ most versatile weapons, racking up 51 appearances across defence and midfield.

AFPGray returns home to Elland Road

Frank, who took charge at Spurs after Ange Postecoglou’s exit, revealed that he had tried to sign Gray during his time at Brentford, only to lose out at the final hurdle. Now, fate has given him another chance to coach the highly-rated youngster. And ahead of his emotional reunion at Elland Road this Saturday, Frank has dropped a bombshell comparison, claiming Gray possesses the same ceiling as world-class midfielders Rodri and Rice.

AdvertisementFrank’s big claim: “He’s got everything”

Frank could hardly contain his admiration for the teenager’s talent and said, "I see him as a midfielder who can play six or eight. That is his position, and I think these days midfielders need to be more complete. You need to be a little bit of a six, little bit of eight and 10 and two of the best in the world right now are probably Rodri and Declan Rice. I think they can do a little bit of everything. I see Archie and they are big names to compare him too, but I see he has got the same potential.”

Getty Images SportEarning his place the hard way

Gray’s Spurs career has been one of patience and persistence. Despite his hefty price tag, the youngster has started only two games under Frank: on the opening day against Burnley and later in the Carabao Cup win over Doncaster. His minutes have mostly come from the bench, though he made a crucial contribution in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Bodo/Glimt, where his individual brilliance led to the equaliser on his Champions League debut.

“When is it that we judge the players?" Frank asked. “I think we forget it is not FIFA, but it is human beings we’re dealing with, and there are 25 players in a squad and a crazy coach who has different thoughts. There are so many things and then personal life. So, when do we judge a player? I think it is probably fair two years down the line where we can really make a big assessment.

“I know I am also being judged from game to game, so I know how it works, but I think to judge it as a success or failure, I don’t think you can really do that before two years. That’s not to say you cannot be judged for your performances, and if you haven’t done well, that’s fair.”

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A family born for football

Gray’s rise is hardly a coincidence; it’s in his blood. His father, Andy Gray, made over 50 Premier League appearances for Leeds, Nottingham Forest, and Sunderland. His grandfather, Frank Gray, lifted both the First Division title with Leeds and the European Cup with Nottingham Forest. As if that weren’t enough, Archie is the great-nephew of Leeds legend Eddie Gray, and his 16-year-old brother has already broken into the Leeds first team. Few families boast that kind of footballing DNA.

"I definitely don’t treat them any different, I just see them as an individual that I try to help in the best possible way," Frank said. "You can say that sometimes there is something they maybe have got a little bit more in with the blood, which I think Archie has got, he seems to understand that he needs to work hard. The foundation, if you want to achieve anything, you need to do that. I think his understanding of the game is good as well. So those two bits and the discipline, I think are key areas if you want to achieve anything. So maybe that is from the blood of the family."

da betcris： Manchester United have now made an official approach to sign an “unbelievable” Premier League player, who could join alongside Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, according to a report.

Man Utd stepping up Baleba pursuit

da esport bet： Despite shelling out £74m to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig last week, Man United still remain active in the transfer market, and they have now set their sights on Brighton’s Baleba to bolster their midfield options.

Taking to X, Fabrizio Romano has recently revealed the 21-year-old would be eager to make a move to Old Trafford, meaning contract terms could be a formality, although it could still be tricky to get a deal over the line.

Ruben Amorim’s side have focused on bringing in new signings with Premier League experience this summer, having already added Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to their ranks, and they are now looking to sign a defender from one of their top-flight rivals.

That is according to a report from Football Transfers, which states Man United have now made an official approach to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, in order to assess whether he would be willing to make a move to Old Trafford.

United are eager to finalise a deal for the defender, who has now entered the final year of his Palace contract, but there could be competition for his signature, with rivals Liverpool also named as potential suitors.

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Given that Guehi is in the last year of his deal, there have been suggestions that a deal could be possible for around £40m, with Steve Parish reluctant to lose him on a free next summer.

Guehi could be "unbelievable" addition to Amorim's backline

It could be difficult for Man United to compete for the Englishman’s signature, with reigning Premier League champions Liverpool also in the race, while Chelsea are also well-known to be admirers of their former player.

It may also not be viewed as a priority to sign a new centre-back after Baleba, given that goalkeeper is arguably a bigger problem area, with Andre Onana subjected to widespread criticism last season.

However, the Palace captain could undoubtedly compete for a starting spot with the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez, and there are signs he could be an upgrade on the former, having outperformed the Dutchman across some key metrics over the past year.

Statistic per 90

Marc Guehi

Matthijs de Ligt

Blocks

1.62

1.16

Tackles

1.79

1.23

Clearances

4.8

3.88

Lauded as “unbelievable” by England teammate Anthony Gordon, Guehi is well-placed to be a success at Old Trafford, but signing a new midfielder should remain the priority, given that Casemiro is now arguably past his best.

Ajinkya Rahane won the toss for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and elected to field on the chasing ground that Eden Gardens has been. Languishing at No. 7 on the table, in IPL 2025, KKR rung in the changes. The former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter, Quinton de Kock, was dropped for the youngster from Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz. They reinforced their batting further after the 95 all out as Moeen Ali came in for Anrich Nortje. Rahane said he saw some dryness in the pitch, which he expected to help his bowlers.The table toppers Gujarat Titans now faced the challenge of setting a total. Like KKR, they trusted the pitch to help spin. Offspin-allrounder Washington Sundar replaced a fast bowler in their line-up. This change added some much-needed depth to their batting. Rashid Khan was their No. 7 last match, which by the way they won comfortably because their top three have been scoring heavily. Arshad Khan was expected to replace Sherfane Rutherford when defending the total.GT’s top-three batters average 49.72 this IPL, the highest for any team, which has let them get away with Rashid batting at No. 7. Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) top three have aggregated more runs and have been scoring way quicker than GT: 172.4 compared to 155.92.Gujarat Titans 1 Shubman Gill (capt.), 2 B Sai Sudharsan, 3 Jos Buttler (wk), 4 Sherfane Rutherford, 5 Shahrukh Khan, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Sai Kishore, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Prasidh KrishnaImpact subs: Ishant Sharma, Karim Janat, Mahipal Lomror, Anuj Rawat, Arshad KhanKolkata Knight Riders: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt.), 4 Venkatesh Iyer, 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Ramandeep Singh, 8 Moeen Ali, 9 Vaibhav Arora, 10 Harshit Rana, 11 Varun ChakravarthyImpact subs: Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Luvnith Sisodia

Apart from hosts Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, Thailand and West Indies will compete for the last two spots in the main World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-2025

Pakistan and Bangladesh will be among the teams hoping to join the top six at the World Cup•BCB

Pakistan vs Ireland and Scotland vs West Indies will kick off the qualifying competition in Lahore on April 9 ahead of the women’s ODI World Cup, which will be played in October this year in India. Bangladesh and Thailand, the other teams in the fray in the six-team event, will face off the following day.Apart from India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka have already qualified for the World Cup, and the final two spots will be filled by the top-two teams from the qualifying tournament. The games will be played at the new-look Gaddafi Stadium and the Lahore City Cricket Association grounds. The two venues, as well as the Aitchison College grounds, will host the warm-up fixtures on April 5 and April 7, after the visiting teams arrive in Lahore on April 3. The last set of games will be played on April 19.Tournament schedule

April 9 – Pak vs Ire & Sco vs WI
April 10 – Ban vs Thai
April 11 – Pak vs Sco & Ire vs WI
April 13 – Ban vs Ire & Sco vs Thai
April 14 – Pak vs WI
April 15 – Ban vs Sco & Ire vs Thai
April 17 – Pak vs Thai & Ban vs WI
April 18 – Ire vs Sco
April 19 – Pak vs Ban & Thai vs WI

The schedule has been officially released today, on March 14, just over three weeks from the start of the tournament, though three boards – West Indies, Ireland and Bangladesh – had put out the dates and venues in an unofficial capacity when announcing their season’s fixtures and in the case of Bangladesh, their squad for the event.This is the second ICC tournament that is being held in Pakistan, after the Champions Trophy and all the matches will be played in the country. Lahore is the only city being used for the event, as there will be no PSL matches held there until April 24. That tournament starts in Rawalpindi on April 11.As reported earlier on ESPNcricinfo, because of the reciprocal arrangement arrived at by the BCCI and the PCB before the Champions Trophy earlier this year, Pakistan, if they qualify for the main event, will not travel to India to play their matches. Those matches will be played at a neutral venue.India will host the women’s ODI World Cup for the fifth time in 2025 – and the first time after 2011. It will also be the first global women’s tournament to be held in India since 2016 when the T20 World Cup ran parallel to the men’s event. The 2025 edition is set to be similar to the 2022 edition, with eight teams taking part and playing a total of 31 matches.

Kohli is the only men’s player who has been nominated for all major awards

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2020Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steven Smith and Joe Root are among seven players who have been nominated for the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for the ICC male cricketer for the decade across formats. India offspinner R Ashwin is the only bowler in this list that also includes Kumar Sangakkara and AB de Villiers, who have both retired from international cricket.Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, the Australian pair of Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry, England’s Sarah Taylor, India’s Mithali Raj, and West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor have been nominated for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award that recognises the best performer in women’s cricket across formats over the last decade.Kohli is the only men’s player who has been nominated for all major awards, including the Test cricketer of the decade, the ODI cricketer of the decade and T20I cricketer of the decade. England seamer James Anderson, the retired Sri Lanka left-arm fingerspinner Rangana Herath, Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah, Williamson and Smith are among other contenders for the men’s Test cricketer of the decade award.Former India and World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni, current India white-ball vice-captain Rohit Sharma and Sri Lanka quick Lasith Malinga are also part of the nominations for the ODI cricketer of the decade.Afghanistan’s ace spinner Rashid Khan, West Indies opener Chris Gayle, and South Africa legspinner Imran Tahir are among the contenders for the T20I men’s player of the decade honour. Sharma and Malinga feature in this list as well.Nepal’s Paras Khadka, Scotland’s Kyle Coetzer and Netherlands’ Peter Borren are among six players who have been shortlisted for the ICC men’s Associate cricketer of the decade award.Bates, Perry, Lanning, Raj and Taylor are also in with a chance to win the women’s ODI cricketer of the decade award.Players for various awards have been shortlisted based on their performances from January 1 2011 to October 7 2020. For the first time, the fans will have a say in selecting the winners – they will make up 10% of the voting while an expert panel will make up the remaining 90%. “The nominees for each of the categories have been determined by the Awards Nominations Committee according to on-field performances and overall achievements for at least five years during the period,” an ICC release stated.The voting opens at November 25 and closes on December 16.Nominees for Sir Garfield Sobers Award: R Ashwin, Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Kumar Sangakkara, Steven Smith, AB de Villiers, Kane Williamson
Nominees for Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award: Suzie Bates, Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry, Mithali Raj, Sarah Taylor, Stafanie Taylor
Nominees for men’s Test cricketer of the decade award: James Anderson, Rangana Herath, Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Yasir Shah, Steven Smith, Kane Williamson
Nominees for men’s ODI cricketer of the decade award: MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Lasith Malinga, Kumar Sangakkara, Rohit Sharma, Mitchell Starc, AB de Villiers
Nominees for women’s ODI cricketer of the decade: Suzie Bates, Jhulan Goswami, Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry, Mithali Raj, Stafanie Taylor
Nominees for men’s T20I cricketer of the decade: Aaron Finch, Chris Gayle, Rashid Khan, Virat Kohli, Lasith Malinga, Rohit Sharma, Imran Tahir
Nominees for women’s T20I cricketer of the decade: Sophie Devine, Deandra Dottin, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry, Anya Shrubsole

Phehlukwayo and Pretorius’ absences prove costly in five-wicket defeat to England

Firdose Moonda27-Nov-2020A few allrounders and at least six bowling options are what South Africa needs to get their team balance right, according to former captain Faf du Plessis.”That’s a challenge that we are facing right now,” du Plessis said, after the five-wicket defeat to England in the first T20I. “We’ve lost Andile [Phehlukwayo] and Dwaine [Pretorius] which fills the role of a sixth bowler and we need six bowling options because if one guy goes on the day, it puts you under pressure. But with the balance of our squad, it doesn’t look like it’s possible to go for a six-man bowling attack. That’s why the allrounder plays such a crucial role in balancing the side.”South Africa went into the series opener with six specialist batsmen, four frontline bowlers and a spin-bowling allrounder in debutant George Linde. Ideally, they would have also liked to have a seam-bowling allrounder but Dwaine Pretorius has been ruled out of the series with a hamstring injury and Andile Phehlukwayo was unavailable for selection. That meant that when Quinton de Kock was looking for some variety, he turned to Heinrich Klaasen’s part-time offspin.ALSO READ: SA forego gestures and lose the plot – but at least cricket is backKlaasen’s solitary over cost 14 runs, which shifted momentum towards England, but it was Beuran Hendricks’ 28-run over that sealed England’s win. Du Plessis cautioned against reading too much into de Kock’s decision to try something different, or into Hendricks’ expensive over, believing both would bounce back.”My experience tells me that in the game of T20 cricket, someone is going to go on the night. I wouldn’t look too much into it if one guy goes for runs,” he said. “That’s the nature of the beast playing T20 cricket and I wouldn’t judge him too harshly. Tonight wasn’t his night.”Faf du Plessis led the charge for South Africa•Getty ImagesAsked if selection could have been different and Anrich Nortje, who lit up the IPL alongside Rabada, could have played as well, du Plessis indicated it was difficult to fit Nortje in, perhaps due to transformation targets.”It’s tough on Anrich [because] it’s a balancing act with our team. We’ve got to try and get that balance right. He was on the short side of it today,” du Plessis said. “But he is bowling really well so we are expecting him to make inroads soon.”

“My role in working with Quinny and the bowlers is that it’s important for me to give advice, talk to the bowlers and make sure there is clarity in their plans”Faf du Plessis is no longer captain but still has a leadership role

South Africa also have the option of including Jon-Jon Smuts, a top-order batsmen who bowls left-arm spin – though that is a similar option to Linde – or changing up their batting line-up to accommodate for Reeza Hendricks, who has not bowled in T20s. It is not clear if Phehlukwayo will be available for the next match, leaving South Africa with de Kock to solve things as he seeks to balance the side.But du Plessis is there to help. Although he has relinquished the leadership, as the senior-most player in the side, du Plessis still sees himself as having a role to play in developing the next generation. That was evident when he led some of the on-field consultations, especially towards the end of the England innings.”It’s important for my own role in the team to assist and help but I don’t look to interfere too much,” he said. “It’s great for Quinny to have the opportunity to learn about field placings and angles. My role in working with Quinny and the bowlers is that it’s important for me to give advice, talk to the bowlers and make sure there is clarity in their plans.”Du Plessis also has a job to do with the bat and he did that in this match, where he top-scored with 58, picking up from where he left off as the leading run-maker for the Chennai Super Kings at the IPL. Not only did his knock change the tempo of the South African innings but it showed his intent to keep playing, for as long as he can.”I had a really good six months off and had some time to reflect and put a lot of time into getting myself as fit and mentally strong as I can be,” du Plessis said. “I still feel like I have a lot left and I am not anywhere close to thinking I am stopping playing cricket. It showed in the IPL: I am moving around well, and I’m switched on and hungry for every ball. I am going to try and push on for as long as I can.”

A pundit has been left confused by some "surprising" exit news out of Tottenham as transfer talks begin ahead of the summer window.

Spurs players who could leave this summer

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou's full focus is on finishing the 2023/2024 season as strongly as possible, with the Lilywhites still well in contention for a top four finish and qualification for the Champions League.

Ange could turn to wildcard Tottenham left-back option after Udogie injury

The north Londoners will be without one of Postecoglou’s key players for the rest of 23/24.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 23, 2024

While Aston Villa currently sit six points clear of Postecoglou's side in fourth, Tottenham do have two games in hand on their rivals and could narrow the gap to nil, with just goal difference separating the pair in that scenario.

However, Spurs will have to be near-perfect if they wish to pip Unai Emery, and they'll need their key players to perform with star left-back Destiny Udogie out for the remainder of 2023/2024 through injury.

Arsenal (home)

April 28th

Chelsea (away)

May 2nd

Liverpool (away)

May 5th

Burnley (home)

May 11th

Man City (home)

May 14th

There are a few squad members who won't have much of a say, though, and their futures are looking pretty uncertain ahead of the summer window. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is among the big names who could leave Tottenham later this year, having been relegated to a bench player since Postecoglou's arrival last summer.

Speculation surrounds both Bryan Gil and Giovani Lo Celso as well, with the duo among five senior players who look certain to depart Spurs when the window reopens. As well as the current squad, there are contingent of senior players out on loan at the moment, all of whom look likely to depart.

Joe Rodon, Tanguy Ndombele, Djed Spence, Japhet Tanganga, Sergio Reguilon and Troy Parrott all return to Spurs later this year, and all seem to be out of Postecoglou's future plans as things stand.

Spence is a particularly curious case, as his 2022 move from Middlesbrough really hasn't worked at all like chairman Daniel Levy and co had planned. The Englishman arrived at N17 with a very exciting reputation after a brilliant 21/22 campaign at Nottingham Forest, where he helped then-Steve Cooper's side achieve promotion back to the top flight.

Pundit surprised by Djed Spence exit update out of Tottenham

Following two years of barely any Spurs game time and multiple loan spells away, Spence is currently on a temporary stint in Serie A with Genoa. According to La Voce Rossublu earlier this month, Genoa are already in talks to sign Spence permanently this summer, and he's said to be keen on the move.

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham has expressed his surprise at the news Genoa are in talks to sign Spence permanently, given the Italians already have a buy option.

“He will be another one out the door and a player who Ange Postecoglou won’t need to interrupt his pre-season plans to include,” Wenham said.

“If Tottenham could get him out as soon as the window opens, that would be another big part of the rebuild which is continuing under Postecoglou.

“I was slightly confused as to why the report states they need to find an agreement with Tottenham when there is already a buy option in Spence’s loan.

“Perhaps they are trying to reduce the fee by a couple million, although £8.6million already seems pretty cheap to me, so it is a bit surprising that they are trying to lower the fee even more.”

Manchester City are looking to sign a current Premier League star, with contact already made over a possible transfer.

Man City transfer rumours

Despite being knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid earlier this month, it promises to be a busy end to the season, with Pep Guardiola’s side looking to retain the Premier League title and the FA Cup.

Off the pitch, Etihad officials could also be busy when it comes to buying and selling ahead of the 2024/25 season, with Jack Grealish the latest player to be linked with a move away. Bernardo Silva continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona, but there have been a number of incoming rumours.

For example, Crystal Palace star Michael Olise appears to be a target, as well as Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, who City are reportedly willing to break the bank for.

Report: Man City eyeing summer move for international “wonderkid”

He once had a spell at Manchester United.

ByHenry Jackson Apr 20, 2024

Former academy gem Jeremie Frimpong has been linked with a return to Manchester as the long-term replacement for Kyle Walker, and a new update suggests contact has been made for a possible Rodri partner.

Man City make Bruno Guimaraes approach

According to 90min, Man City are looking to sign Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes and have approached the player's camp over a move. The report states that Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are contenders to sign the Brazilian midfielder, with the Gunners also looking at Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.

City’s interest in Guimaraes comes as the club are ‘looking for a player to compliment Rodri and like the fact Guimaraes can play as a number six or a number eight’. However, the report adds that even though Newcastle need to bring in some funds to comply with FFP, they would love to keep Guimaraes, so his £100m release clause may need to be triggered.

Guimaraes has been a regular at St James’ Park since joining in 2022 and has gone from strength to strength, with his Transfermarkt valuation doubling to a career-high €85m since moving to England. He has now made more than 100 appearances for Newcastle, 44 of which have come during the current campaign, and Guimaraes quickly received praise from Magpies legend Alan Shearer as well, who said in 2022.

“He was superb. Man of the match for me was Bruno. The way he handles that ball under pressure and is able to ping that ball into the forward players, he’s so comfortable on the ball, particularly if you give him this amount of space.”

Goals

7

4

Assists

7

6

Expected assists

3

5.2

Progressive passes received

48

61

Tackles

57

72

Blocks

27

46

Interceptions

20

29

Capable of playing as a holding or central midfielder, you could argue that a Rodri and Guimaraes partnership in midfield could be dominant for City, and if the club get their way, we may see that at the Etihad come August.

It's been another miserable season of football for Chelsea fans this year.

Mauricio Pochettino has failed to create an effective team at Stamford Bridge, and aside from an imposing FA Cup Semi-Final against Manchester City on the horizon, there is nothing left to play for in 2023/24.

One of the few positives to come out of this year for the Blues is Cole Palmer, who has been a revelation at the Bridge and almost singlehandedly saved the team from a relegation fight. However, he's earning considerably less than a former flop used to.

Cole Palmer's salary at Chelsea

The Pensioners paid Manchester City £42.5m to sign Palmer in the dying days of the summer transfer window last year, and to say they've already got their money's worth would be a colossal understatement.

In his first full season of regular senior football, the Wythenshawe-born gem has returned a staggering 32 goal involvements in 37 games, with 19 of those being goals and 13 being assists.

Appearances

37

Goals

19

Assists

13

Goal Involvements per Match

0.86

These are vital contributions as well, such as the opener against Arsenal at home, the late equaliser against City last year, or the incredibly dramatic last-second winner against Manchester United last week.

The "exceptional" talent, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has been the shining light in Chelsea's bleakest of seasons, yet his £75k-per-week salary means that 15 players earn more than him in the squad.

However, what's even more surprising is that a former flop used to earn 2.4 times more than the young superstar despite doing very little to warrant it.

Callum Hudson-Odoi's salary at Chelsea

The former flop in question is Cobham graduate Callum Hudson-Odoi, who earned an enormous sum of money in west London before finally leaving last summer. But before we get to that, let's look at his Chelsea record.

The Wandsworth-born ace spent five seasons in and around the first team from 2017/18 to 2021/22, in which he made 126 appearances, scored 16 goals, provided 21 assists, and made a real name for himself as one of the most exciting up-and-coming youngsters in English football. So much so that in October 2020, Bayern Munich made an offer to take him on loan with a £70m option to buy.

This hype saw his wages soar from just £400-per-week in the 17/18 season to £2500-per-week the season after and £120k-per-week in 19/20 all the way to £180k-per-week for the 20/21 and 21/22 campaigns – a staggering increase of 44,900%.

Unfortunately for all involved, this coincided with multiple injury problems and a downturn in form, which led to a doomed loan move to Bayer Leverkusen for the 2022/23 campaign to try and rediscover his magic.

Upon his return to London, the former wonderkid remained a Chelsea player for another four weeks before finally leaving the Bridge for good to join Nottingham Forest, where he has since started to impress again.

Total Wages

£25.7m

Appearances

126

Cost per Appearance

£204k

Goals

16

Cost per Goal

£1.6m

Assists

21

Cost per Assist

£1.2m

Goal Involvements

37

Cost per Goal Involvement

£694k

So, when accounting for his wages during the five seasons and four weeks he was actually at the club, the 23-year-old cost the Pensioners a mindboggling £25.7m. In other words, he cost £1.6m-per-goal, £1.2m-per-assist, or £204k-per-appearance – talk about value for money.

Ultimately, the case of Hudson-Odoi at Chelsea is another 'what could've been' regarding an incredibly promising but injury-prone player. However, it still seems absurd to this day that he saw a wage rise of 44,900% and earned over double what Palmer does today.

Chelsea were bled dry by Conte flop who earned 3x more than Gallagher

The talented star just couldn’t make it work at Stamford Bridge.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 9, 2024