Chelsea have confirmed that Levi Colwill has undergone surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The setback comes ahead of their return to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 season. The 22-year-old defender has become a key figure in Enzo Maresca’s back line and will now miss a significant part of the campaign.
Chelsea said the ACL injury occurred during training after their Club World Cup triumph in the United States. Following the knee issue, medical assessments confirmed that surgery was necessary. “Levi will now begin his recovery and be supported by the club’s medical department at Cobham during his rehabilitation phase,” Chelsea said in a statement.
Colwill played 43 matches in all competitions last season. He featured in all 90 minutes of the 3-0 Club World Cup final win over Paris Saint-Germain, assisting Cole Palmer’s second goal.
A Crucial Part of Chelsea’s Defence
An academy graduate, Colwill broke into the first team in the 2023/24 season after loan spells at Huddersfield and Brighton. He helped Chelsea register the third-best defensive record in the Premier League last season, starting 35 of 38 league games. Chelsea conceded just 43 goals, behind only Arsenal and Liverpool. His performances helped secure a fourth-place finish and a Champions League return.
Maresca praised the defender’s role in last season’s success. “You know in our way, how important Levi has been,” Maresca said. “I spoke with him yesterday and I told him that if we achieve what we achieved last year, it is also because of him – and he was a main player for us.”
Recovery Timeline and Chelsea’s Next Steps
ACL injuries usually require six to nine months for full recovery. Manchester City’s Rodri suffered a similar injury last September and returned in May. Chelsea will face Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan in pre-season before starting their Premier League campaign at home to Crystal Palace on August 17.
Maresca said the club will “wait and see” before deciding on signing a replacement centre-back.
Stay tuned for all the latest Sports News, follow SportsNewsTime on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram