Chelsea defender Levi Colwill undergoes urgent ACL surgery and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines
This summer’s return to training at Chelsea’s Cobham base was meant to set the tone for triumph — but instead delivered a nightmare. Levi Colwill, the 22-year-old defensive anchor, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during pre-season training and subsequently underwent successful surgery. The injury is expected to keep him out for six to nine months, potentially sidelining him for the entire 2025–26 campaign.
Club sources confirmed that medical assessments swiftly determined surgery to be the only option. Colwill has now returned to Cobham and begun rehabilitation under the care of Chelsea’s medical team. His absence arrives as a devastating blow to manager Enzo Maresca, who had already praised the defender’s instrumental role in Chelsea’s stellar 2024–25 season, which featured a Champions League spot, Club World Cup triumph, and UEFA Conference League victory.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. The season’s curtain-raiser against Crystal Palace is scheduled for 17 August, with no Colwill’s presence to offer defensive solidity. Yet there may be some relief: Wesley Fofana, having recovered from a hamstring injury, is back in training and is being readied as a central defensive partner to fill the void left by Colwill.
Chelsea’s acquisition of Jorrel Hato from Ajax this summer may prove crucial. The young defender offers versatility, capable of operating both as centre-back and left-back. Alongside him, options such as Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoît Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, and Axel Disasi provide the squad with needed depth. Maresca acknowledged the blow of losing such a key player but insisted that the club will adapt and press ahead in the transfer market if necessary.
For Colwill, the road ahead is gruelling: ACL injuries are notorious, often requiring extensive rehabilitation and rehab beyond expected timelines. Reports suggest he could miss the entire season, a heavy toll for a player who is used to starting matches and driving Chelsea’s defensive stability.
Chelsea supporters will hope he recovers not only strongly but fully. His loss is not just a tactical frustration — it’s also a psychological and symbolic one, removing one of the young leaders central to the club’s resurgence.
With the season now looming and the Premier League campaign set to begin, manager Enzo Maresca, his backroom staff, and the squad must rally—and fast. Chelsea’s defensive setup will look drastically different this season, and only time will tell whether Colwill can return, and when.