Chelsea faces major setback with Levi Colwill out for months due to ACL injury, potentially prompting search for new defender.

Chelsea and England have faced a setback as Levi Colwill had to undergo surgery for an ACL injury sustained on his first day back in pre-season training. The 22-year-old suffered the injury towards the end of Chelsea's first training session for the 2025-26 season after a break following the Club World Cup. After confirming the extent of the injury through a scan, Chelsea decided to proceed with surgery. The club confirmed that the operation was successful, but Colwill will be out of action for a significant period, similar to James Maddison at Tottenham Hotspur, who also recently suffered an ACL injury.

Colwill was a key player for Chelsea last season, featuring in almost all Premier League matches and contributing to their victories in the Conference League and Club World Cup. Chelsea is now considering whether to recruit a new central defender during this transfer window. One potential target is Marc Guehi, a left-sided center back, who is in the final year of his contract at Crystal Palace. Palace values Guehi at £40 million, having bought him from Chelsea for £18 million in 2021 before the club was taken over by new owners.

Manager Enzo Maresca mentioned during a press conference ahead of friendly matches against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan that Colwill's absence poses a challenge for the team. He acknowledged Colwill's significant contribution to the team's success in the previous season and expressed concern about his absence impacting the team's performance.

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