Cole Palmer with his girlfriend Connie Grace (Lucy North/PA)
Chelsea and England midfielder Cole Palmer made his first public appearance with his girlfriend Connie Grace at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in London.
Palmer, who was dressed in a black suit and bowtie, attended the event with fellow Mancunian Grace, who was wearing a black cut-out dress, at the Kensington Roof Gardens in London.
Palmer and Grace have been together for around three months but had not attended a public event as a couple until Tuesday evening.
The 22-year-old, who grew up in Wythenshawe, a suburb south of Manchester city centre, was also joined by his mother, Marie, and his father, Jermaine.
Palmer’s grandfather, Sterry Cole, was from St Kitts and Nevis before he moved to the UK in 1960.
The Chelsea midfielder pays tribute to his family’s heritage by having the St Kitts and Nevis flag printed on his football boots for every match.
Cole Palmer and Connie Grace have been together for around three months (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Cole Palmer with his mother Marie (Getty)
Cole Palmer with his father Jermaine (Getty)
Also in attendance on Tuesday night was Palmer’s Chelsea and England teammate Noni Madueke.
Manchester United and England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and legendary Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt were also at the ceremony.
Chelsea and England winger Noni Madueke (Dave Benett/Getty)
Kobbie Mainoo with Usain Bolt (Dave Benett/Getty)
Palmer, meanwhile, spoke recently about his adaptation to life in London following his £42.5 million move from Manchester City to Chelsea last year.
‘The club help a lot,’ Palmer told The Telegraph last week.
‘They’ve done most of it, which is helpful, because it’s stressful.
‘Manchester’s better, but I don’t mind it. I do like it around here, because it’s quiet, there are no distractions.
‘Everyone you would go out with on a day-to-day basis is nowhere near you.’
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