Adam Wharton said he doesn't think anyone "could have written the script" of his trajectory from playing in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers to becoming an England international. Wharton has played a starring role as Palace won the FA Cup and Community Shield.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton said he was pleased with how his footballing journey has progressed in the two years since he moved to Selhurst Park.
Wharton joined The Eagles from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024 and his career has exploded since that move.
The 22-year-old made Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2024 Euros as the Three Lions made it all the way to the final.
And in his first full season at Palace, Wharton was able to get his hands on silverware, playing a major role as the Eagles went on to win their first major honours with the FA Cup.
This season, he again played a starring role in the Community Shield triumph, before dominating midfields across Europe with Palace advancing to the quarter-finals against Fiorentina.
That is a journey that continues to capture the imagination of Eagles fans around the world and shows the upturn in results over the past two seasons.
Wharton himself believes a lot has changed since he first joined Palace, both with the team and his own responsibilities.
“I think a lot's changed since then [joining Palace],” Wharton told Talksport.
“But, yeah, I think I just have more of an understanding of the game, trying to become a bit more vocal on the pitch, especially at Palace.
“Being in the midfield, you have to speak a lot more. You have to speak with the defenders, then you've got the wide players and the strikers.
“You’ve got to speak a bit to everyone, it’s about trying to just communicate more, because then it helps the team if everyone knows what they're doing.
“And then on the ball, off the ball, there a lot of different things that have changed, but I’m just trying to work on it all, really.”
Wharton has been blessed to play under Palace’s most successful manager in Oliver Glasner, who has led the club to two major trophies.
It is a journey that most Palace fans could have only dreamed of, winning a major trophy at Wembley and playing in Europe.
Adam Wharton is expected to make the squad for the World Cup this summer. Image Credit: ReutersWharton himself expresses how much the team have had to change since the beginning of their European campaign, while he cannot believe the path he has taken to reach this point.
“With the gaffer at Palace, I’m just trying to take as much as I can from him,” he added.
“With the way we play, and then Europe's been different this year, so it's been a lot more on-the-ball for us, trying to keep the ball moving quick, and trying to break down [teams] a little bit, which we haven't really done a lot in the Premier League, because teams are more aggressive against us.”
“I don't think you could have written that script back then [in 2024]. It's been a very special journey – lots of ups and downs, lots of different paths taken that I probably would never have thought would happen. But I'm glad with how everything's gone.
“I'm just happy that I'm able to play football and express myself, and try and have a benefit on any team that I play with.”