A tabloid lifestyle and the 'will he, won't he' speculation over his future during much of 2005 and 2006 alienated fans of previous club Arsenal, though they did get William Gallas in exchange plus £5m.
Cole had progressed from the Gunners youth ranks to become regarded as one of the best left-backs in the world.
But his reputation was severely tarnished in January 2005 when tabloid newspapers revealed he had met with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon and manager Jose Mourinho to, allegedly at least, discuss a transfer to Stamford Bridge.
Cole, Chelsea and Mourinho were all fined by the Football Association for their part in the sordid tale.
Chelsea's sale of Asier Del Horno in summer 2006 eventually sped up the expected move, with Arsene Wenger keen to sign the versatile Gallas. The move to Chelsea was inevitable given the furore surrounding Cole's impending autobiography.
Cole, who made his professional debut in a loan spell at Crystal Palace, has class, poise and a great eye for attacking options and is a calm, effective defender.
He came through the ranks at Highbury's Centre of Excellence.
An injury to Brazilian left-back Silvinho during the 2000/01 season gave Cole the opportunity of an extended run in Arsene Wenger's first team and the youngster did not fail his manager.
His excellent performances caught the eye of England manager Sven Goran Eriksson who included Cole in his first England squad in February 2001.
Cole made his England debut in a World Cup qualifying match against Albania in March 2001.
The Stepney-born star was a member of the England squad at the 2002 World Cup finals, starting all of his country's games before they went out to Brazil in the quarter-finals.
As well as winning the double in 2001/2, he helped Arsenal regain their Premiership crown in a season where they didn't lose a single Premiership match.
But Cole found his 2005/06 campaign ruined by the now infamous metatarsal injury and also sued both the News of the World and The Sun over insinuations over his sexuality - despite the fact he was due to marry Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy.
It had looked in summer 2006 as though the player would be marooned at Arsenal until a last ditch deal saw him swap clubs with Gallas.
If football fans had not been offended by Cole's conduct in meeting with Chelsea his autobiography made them physically sick. He moaned about being offered 'only' £55,000-a-week, and about the lack of respect from Arsenal fans despite the fact he had actively looked to engineer a move to a rival club.
He made his Chelsea debut in a 2-1 home victory over Charlton Athletic to begin a spell at the Bridge which is yet to hit the heights of Highbury, through injury, loss of form and further tabloid scandal.
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