Chelsea captain Reece James is expected to be out for around three months after minor knee surgery. The 26-year-old sustained the injury in training last Friday, before Chelsea's 5-1 home win over Bournemouth. The England international is now set to be out until 2027.
Chelsea confirmed on Friday morning that James had undergone successful minor knee surgery. Blues boss Xabi Alonso is set to be asked about the injury at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Everton.
James has suffered multiple injuries throughout his career, and this latest setback will keep him out of home games against Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool, as well as the trip to Manchester City. He enjoyed a relatively injury-free campaign last season, making 29 Premier League appearances, the most since the 2020/21 season. That form earned him a call-up to England's World Cup squad, but he suffered a hamstring injury at the tournament, which saw him miss three games. He recovered to start in the semi-final loss against Argentina.
The Chelsea academy graduate has made six appearances this season, including three Premier League starts. In March, James signed a new six-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing