Chelsea star Cole Palmer swapped the Stamford Bridge spotlight for the streets of west London on Monday as he quietly joined the crowds at Notting Hill Carnival.
The 23-year-old, who has quickly become one of Chelsea’s most influential players during his two years at Stamford Bridge, decided to take in Europe’s biggest street party while keeping his identity firmly under wraps.
With thousands flocking to west London to celebrate Caribbean culture, Palmer donned a full face mask, a rastacap and black dreadlocks in a playful attempt to blend in.
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Posting to Instagram, the England international shared a short video of the festival atmosphere along with a snap of his disguise. He captioned the post simply: “Blendinggg.”
Chelsea star Cole Palmer swapped the Stamford Bridge spotlight for the streets of west London on Monday as he quietly joined the crowds at Notting Hill Carnival
|The carnival carries particular significance for Palmer and his family.
His grandfather, Sterry, was born in St Kitts, and earlier this summer the forward travelled to the Caribbean island for the first time.
Palmer was keen to connect with his roots and learn more about his heritage.
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Missing Chelsea’s 5-1 demolition of West Ham on Friday because of a warm-up injury, the afternoon out also gave Palmer some welcome downtime after a hectic start to the season.
For a player who has become known as much for his understated personality as for his footballing brilliance, the disguise allowed him to immerse himself in the celebrations without drawing the kind of attention he usually receives on the streets of London.
Palmer has learned first-hand how difficult it can be to move around the capital unnoticed.
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Cole Palmer opted to go undercover at Notting Hill carnival to avoid unwanted attention from fans
Back in April, he went viral when he attempted to jog past Stamford Bridge after a match to pick up a pair of designer shoes.
Instead, he was mobbed by fans who filmed the moment while shouting his name.
At Notting Hill, however, the mask and dreadlocks offered him a rare chance to enjoy a public event without becoming the centre of attention.
Friends and family have previously said the winger has never been one to seek the limelight, preferring to let his football speak for him.
Palmer’s rapid rise since his move from Manchester City last year has seen him become a central figure for both Chelsea and England.
His calmness under pressure and knack for decisive goals have made him a fan favourite, but he remains down to earth off the pitch.
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Cole Palmer has been a huge hit at Chelsea since his arrival from Manchester City two years ago
|REUTERS
The Notting Hill Carnival, which has run annually since the 1960s, is renowned for its celebration of Caribbean heritage through music, food and colourful parades.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are next in action against Fulham on Saturday (12.30pm).
Whether Palmer features following his injury against West Ham on Friday remains to be seen.