No release clause in Cole Palmer's contract if Chelsea fail to qualify for UCL: Report

The Blues have suffered a slump in their performance as the season progressed.

Enzo Maresca insists that the Chelsea management didn’t set a goal to lead Chelsea to a Champions League spot at the start of the season. However, it is still unclear how the board would react to this setback.

Losing their boss could represent not the only blow for the West London club this summer if they are unable to finish in the top four. If Chelsea don’t make it into Europe’s top club competition, certain players might reevaluate their futures.

More precisely, reports claim that certain players’ contracts, such as Cole Palmer’s, include provisions requiring Chelsea to consider offers in such cases. Although its existence has been contested, the purported clause in the 22-year-old England international’s deal would only apply if they failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Palmer has to be competing in the top competitions, and with all due respect to the Conference League and Europa League, they are not near the level that the England international ought to be aiming for.

Chelsea's opponent in the last 16 of the Conference League: Copenhagen 🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/9LECUxpTce

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 21, 2025

For a variety of reasons, these are crucial months for the Blues, and the summer will provide some insight into what will transpire at Stamford Bridge next.

Cole Palmer and his Chelsea teammates are under pressure to qualify for the Champions League this season, and it can end up being a difficult task.

It’s extremely improbable that the 22-year-old would leave the club for that reason (not qualifying for UCL), even if he did make a suggestion towards that effect.

If Chelsea are unable to salvage their season, the handing of such a long-term contract—which doesn’t expire for another eight years—becomes increasingly apparent as a mistake.

The Blues are currently in sixth place, behind a number of teams who could challenge for that crucial fourth-place finish, as their performance has deteriorated over the last few games.

Chelsea’s owners already have Enzo Maresca at their mercy, so supporters of the West London team wouldn’t be shocked if the Italian is let go at the end of the current season.

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