Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has suffered a serious ACL injury and is expected to be sidelined for an extended period, the club has confirmed.
The 22-year-old underwent successful surgery after sustaining the injury in training earlier this week, just days after reporting back to Cobham for the start of pre-season.
The news, first reported by journalist Ben Jacobs, marks a major setback for both the player and head coach Enzo Maresca, who had already ruled Colwill out of Friday’s friendly against Bayer Leverkusen, though no timeline had previously been given.
In an official statement released on Thursday, Chelsea said:
“Defender Levi Colwill has today undergone successful surgery to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The 22-year-old had reported back to Cobham for pre-season at the start of this week, before unfortunately sustaining the injury in training.
Medical assessments confirmed surgery would be the required course of action.
Levi will now begin his recovery and be supported by the club’s medical department at Cobham during his rehabilitation phase.”
Colwill’s absence will likely force Maresca into an early defensive reshuffle ahead of the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace. With fellow centre-back Wesley Fofana still recovering from his own long-term injury, Chelsea’s backline depth will be tested throughout pre-season.
No official timeframe has been provided by the club, but ACL injuries typically require six to nine months of recovery, placing his availability for the majority of the upcoming season in doubt.
Further updates are expected as Colwill begins his rehabilitation process.
