Kane 3rd, Ronaldo 7th – Players with most goal contributions in debut seasons after transfers

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29 league goals and assists 

Cole Palmer continued his magnificent season by scoring four goals in Chelsea’s comprehensive 6-0 rout of Everton on Monday night. It remarkably represented consecutive hat-tricks at Stamford Bridge after he also took home the match ball in the dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester United earlier in April. 

Palmer made the difficult decision to depart Manchester City in the summer in search of regular first-team football and it was an inspired call. The 21-year-old has been a revelation for Chelsea during a disappointing season under Mauricio Pochettino. Palmer took his goal tally to 25 in all competitions while also providing 13 assists and his market value has increased by €37 million to €55m since the start of the season. Palmer has 29 goal contributions in the English Premier League and he’s amongst esteemed company for players with most goal contributions in their first league season after transferring clubs in the top five leagues since 2000. 

Who has the most goal contributions in their first season at a top five league club?

Palmer is now level with Hernán Crespo (Lazio), Marek Mintál (Nuremberg) and Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt) on 29 goal contributions but the Chelsea star will likely add to his tally across their final seven league games. As the graphic below illustrates, Palmer could climb the list and enter the top ten for goal contributions in debut seasons – if he maintains his current level of productivity. 

Unsurprisingly, Erling Haaland leads the way for most goals in their first league season after transferring clubs after his stunning debut campaign at Manchester City. Haaland netted 36 goals and eight assists in the Premier League as Pep Guardiola’s men claimed their third consecutive title as they won a historic treble. Mohamed Salah ranks second after his brilliant 2017/18 season after joining Liverpool when he registered 42 goal contributions in the league – 32 goals and 10 assists. Robin van Persie and Harry Kane are tied third on 41 goal contributions but the Bayern Munich striker could feasibly rise to top spot before the end of this season. Kane requires 4 goal contributions to eclipse Haaland’s record (44) and it puts the England captain’s incredible Bundesliga form into perspective despite Bayern Munich’s troubles. Some famous faces feature in the top ten, including Zlatan Ibrahimović (40), Cristaino Ronaldo (35) and Neymar (32) but Palmer could move ahead of those legends with the Chelsea star in incredible form.

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